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 70
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 70
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 70
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 70
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 70
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In 1812 James Ross and John Wood were engaged in merchandising in the village, and on March 30, 1813, they dissolved partnership, Wood remaining. Ross went farther up the luniata, and later was a contractor on the canal. Ilis son now keeps a hotel at Me Veytown.
A Fourth of July celebration was held in the grove at the east end of the town in 1813, now the cleared field opposite the residence of Dr. I. N. Grubb. The citizens met at " Mr. Holman's Inn " (now Mrs. Snyder's), where dinner was served and nineteen toasts drank, of which the last was " The Fair Sex of the United States." Colonel Jacob Reigert, of Lancas- ter, read the Declaration of Independence.
The first post-office was established at the tavern of John McGary, of which he was the postmaster. He was succeeded by his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth MeGary. It was at one time held by Levi Myers, and for many years by Mrs. Eliza James, who now holds the position. Hotels have been kept by a number of persons since Michael Holman and John McGary. In 1869 Amos Snyder opened the tavern which many years previous had been kept by Michael Holman, and later by many others, and con- tinned until his death, in 1875, since which time it has been kept by his widow, Mrs. Snyder.
CHURCHES .-- Before the year 1825 a number of members of the Episcopalian denomination living in the neighborhood invited the Rev. Mr. Baker, of Chester County, to visit this section and preach to them, which invitation was ac- cepted, and in 1828 the stone church at the cast end of the borough was erected. He remained a few years and was succeeded, in order, by the Rev. Mr. Huff and the Rev. Charles Snow- don. The congregation, however, did not thrive, and services were abandoned. About 1810, after the United Presbyterian Church was erected at Mexico, services were held at Thomp- sontown by that denomination, and are now held in the church edifice. The Rev. Francis MeBirney is in charge and resides at Mexico. Abont 1831 the Methodists of this place and vicinity erected a house of worship on a back- street, and on a lot now owned by Dr. I. N. Grubb. This was used until 1881, when the pre- sent brick church edifice was created at a cost of
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two thousand six hundred and twenty-two dol- lars. It was dedicated in February, 1882, the Rev. Dr. Gray, of Williamsport, preaching the dedi- cation sermon. The memorial window was placed in the church by the Tennis Brothers.
The congregation has been under the care of the Thompsontown Circuit, which embraces, be- sides, Pine Grove, Eist Salem and Marshall Chapel, in Pfontz's Valley.
Emmanuel's Lutheran Church building was erceted in 1843.
The society is in the charge with MeAlister- ville and Centre. A full account of the pastorate will be found in the history of the Me Alister- ville Church.
Scuoors .- The first school-house within the limits of the borongh was built of logs and stood in the rear of J. S. Inkens' present resi- dence. In that year Miss Nancy MeGary, sister of John MeGary, was a teacher. In 1815 Mr. Crosby was a teacher. James Ross was a teacher later, he having been a merchant in the place. William JJones, who had taught in many parts of thecounty, was also a teacher. Of other teachers were William P. Law, Samuel Skuyler. At this school most of the young men of the town were educated. The Rev. Charles Snow- don, who was here as an Episcopal clergyman, taught in the village. The Thompsontown Academy was built by subscription, in 1833, for church and school purposes, and was used sne- cessfully for several years.
In 1838 the township of Delaware accepted the school law, and the schools were connected with the township until March 20, 1868, when it became an independent district. In 1865, however, a large brick house, forty-eight by forty-eight feet, was built, at a cost of three thousand five hundred and sixty dollars, which is still used. The district now contains seventy- three pupils. The Juniata school-house of the township is on the western border of the dis- triet.
LODGES AND SOCLETUES.
SINCERITY LODGE, No. 357, I. O. O. F., was chartered by the Grand Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Pennsylvania, 16th of April, 1819, and insti- tuted at Thompsontown, Pa. On May 30,
1849, the Lodge was organized by the election of E. D. Crawford, Noble Grand ; Matthias Bonner, Vice-Grand ; John M. James, Secreta- ry ; Jacob Strayer, Assistant Secretary; Jolm F. Bemer, Treasurer, as officers and charter members.
The lodge first met in the old stone building over on Main Street, now owned and occupied by Horace Myers.
The Thompsontown Odd-Fellows' Hall As- sociation was organized April 20, 1861, when Messrs. Barnett Rapp, Israel Tennis and James MeKnight, previously appointed a committee, met in the hall of the lodge of Odd-Fel- lows and opened the books of the I. O. O. F. Hall Association and received subscriptions for the stock of the Association.
On the 1st day of June of same year the committee, Messrs. Rapp, Tennisand MeKnight (commissioners), again met and "opened an election for officers of the Association for one year, with the following result : Barnett Rapp was elected President ; Israel Tennis, Treasurer ; and Dr. P. L. Greenleaf, Secretary of the Asso- ciation ; each one having received thirty-two votes."
At the same meeting Messrs. Thomas W. Lukens, J. T. Carpenter and George W. Lloyd were elected association trustees.
The number of shares subscribed for this association was one hundred and ninety-three, at five dollars per share-for which the building on Main Street and now occupied and largely owned by the Odd-Fellows' Lodge was built in the summer of 1861, with Mr. J. T. Carpenter as architect.
The new hall was dedicated February, 1862, since which time the lodge has occupied it. The lodge started with a membership of four- teen, and gradually increased to sixty-five. During the War of the Rebellion the member- ship dropped off' some, and after the stringent times of 1872 the membership fell off rapidly, imtil at the present time only twenty-two re- main in fellowship. The last semi-annual re- port, made March 31, 1885, shows as follows : Funds in hands of treasurer, 83 17.39 ; invested, $1163 79 ; value of regalia, etc., $15; total assets of' lodge, $1,555.18.
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JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
The present officers are A. R. Fulner, Noble Grand; L. G. Cameron, Vice-Grand ; Jolm F. Detra, Secretary ; Israel Tennis, Treasurer ; I. C. Lantz, Assistant Secretary ; Jacob Spicher, Warden; Elilm Benner, William J. Dennis, John F. Detra, Lodge Trustees.
The Thompsontown Odd-Fellows' Hall As- sociation building was erected on lot purchased from Thomas W. Lukens, and deeded to the trustees of said Association in 1861. The original contract for building was for seven hundred dollars ; but with additions and extras it reached the sum of nine hundred and sixty- five dollars, of which Sincerity Lodge took in stock one hundred and forty shares at five dol- lars per share. The lodge now holds one hnin- dred and sixty-three shares of said stock.
POST-OFFICE BUILDING ASSOCIATION .- In connection with Odd-Fellows' Hall Association the Post-Office Building Association was form- ed, October 23, 1865. At a meeting held in the Odd-Fellows' Hall, it was resolved to erect a joint- stock building on Lukens' corner. The ground was leased from John S. Lukens at six cents per annum, its location is on the Town Square on the southeast corner of Bridge and Main Streets; size of building sixteen by twenty- two feet.
First officers of association were Jolin Deit- rick, President ; Dr. P. L. Greenleaf, Secretary, and John S. Lnkens, Treasurer. The amount of stock subscribed at ten dollars per share was three Inindred and forty dollars. Cost of structure was $331.73. The association re- ceived an animal rent from the building of twenty-five dollars, the greater portion of which now goes into the treasury of Sincerity Lodge.
LAMBERTON LODGE, F. AND A. M .- A char- ter was granted by the Masonic Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, Oct. 16, 1866, to thirteen per- sons who were constituted Dec. 21, 1866, Lamb- erton Lodge, No. 371, F. and .A. M., with Gico. W. Rothrock as Worshipful Master; John Deitrick, Senior Warden; Jacob T. Emerick, Imior War- ` den ; Louis E. Atkinson, Secretary ; and George W. Smith, Treasurer. The lodge started with a membership of sixteen, within two years in- creased to thirty, and has now thirty-eight in active membership.
The present officers are: W. M., Rev. Luther F. Smith; S. W., Chas. C. Tennis; J. W., Lucian W. Sciber ; Secretary, Isaac N. Grubb ; Treasurer, Israel Tennis, -Treasurer Tennis having been elected to that office each year since 1877. The lodge has initiated forty-five members ; admitted six ; its loss in deaths, res- ignations, cte., has been twenty-nine. It has paid a revenue to the Grand Lodge of eight hundred and eighty-two dollars, besides liberal amounts to charitable and other worthy pur- poses. Its meetings are held monthly in Odd- Fellows' Hall, Main Street, Thompsontown.
ORDER OF UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS (SENIORS) .- Council No. 350 was organized June 17, 1875, at Thompsontown, Pa., with the following officers : Councilor, James S. Vines; Vice-Councilor, Luke Davis ; Rec. Sce., Eman- nel Smith ; Asst. Ree. Sec., A. F. Henkels; Fin. See., I. C. Lautz. The council continued in working order for two years, when it sus- pended, but reorganized on November 13, 1884. The present officers are,-Councilor, James Hostetler; Vice-Councilor, A. II. Wetzler; Rec. Sec., C. C. Kloss; Asst. Rec. See., R. T. Bastress. Treasurer, M. R. Bastress.
ORDER OF UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS (JUNIORS) .- Council No. 153, J. O. U. A. M., was instituted in February, 1875, with Edgar A. Tennis as Councilor ; Luke Davis, Vice- Councilor. The council continued in existence for a little more than a year, when it became defunct and surrendered its charter, books and papers to the Grand Couneil, and has not sinee reorganized.
DELAWARE LITERARY SOCIETY .- From a debating society, holding its sessions in " Smith's School-House," one and one-half miles north of Thompsontown, the " Thompsontown Lyceum" was organized on the 29th of November, 1858, and at onee moved to Thompsontown and held its meetings in the "Stone Academy," now on Bridge Street, north of the town centre.
On the 26th day of April, 1861, the lyceum was merged into the present organization, under the title of " The Delaware Literary Society," with the following as its " charter " or organiz- ation members : John B. Porter, President ; George W. Lloyd, Secretary ; Theorus D. Gar-
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man, J. C. McNaughton, John C. Tennis, P. L. Greenleaf, M.D., Elwin Davis, Miss Susan Rothrock, Miss Fannie Greenleaf, Miss Jennie R. Tennis, Miss Elizabeth Seiber, Miss Mattie J. Likeus, Miss A. B. Greenleaf, Miss Tillie Kanffman, Miss Clementine Me Naughton, Miss Elizabeth Haldeman, Miss Jennie E. James, Mi-, Tillie Hutchison, Miss Mattie R. Smith. The objects of this society are set forth as fol- lows :
" We, the undersigned, do declare ourselves an as- sociation for mutual improvement in elocution, com- position and debate, and for enlarging our fund of general intelligence, in which object we desire to ex- hibit a dne consideration for the opinions and feelings of others, to maintain a perfect command of temper in all our intercourse, to seek for truth in all our exer- cises ; and, to further these objects, have adopted for our government the following Constitution, By-Laws and Rules of Order."
These now constitute a twenty-page printed pamphlet, which, up to 1874, were in manu- script only.
The society elects a full complement of officers every six months, who are inducted into office on the first meeting night of January and July of each year. The meetings are held weekly, on Friday evening, and the length of session is limited to ten and a half o'clock P.M.
The present officers are M. Inther Keizer, president ; Miss Annie Leyder, secretary ; M. G. Slmman, financial secretary; Miss Lottie Me- AAlister, librarian ; Edwin Davis, treasurer; J. N. Grubb, critie. This society now holds its meetings in the borough school-house.
The borongh of Thompsontown was incor- porated by the Court of Quarter Sessions of Juniata County receiving the report of the grand jury on the 4th of December, 1867, and confirming it on the same day.
The Thompsontown Bridge Company was or- ganized in 1857 and in 1857-58 a roofed bridge was built over the river by Wise & Ebey, of Huntingdon County, at a cost of eleven thou- sand five hundred and seventy-five dollars. It was used until destroyed by an ice flood Febru- ary 7, 1871.
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The wires of the Western Union Telegraph Company were put in connection with the bor- ongh for the first time January 31, 1873.
The borough now contains four hundred and thirty inhabitants, three churches, hotel, post- office, creamery, school-house, two general stores, drug-tore and shops of the different trades.
The following is a list of the chief burgesses of the borough of Thompsontown from its or- ganization, 1868, to 1885:
1868 .- Thomas Patton. 1869 .- S. Miller Keppler. 1870 .- Elihu Benner, Esq. 1871-72 .- Daniel Bastress.
1873-74 .- J. Stewart Lukens, Esq.
1875-77 .- Daniel Bastress.
1878-80 .- J. Warren Plette.
1881-82 .- Jacob Spicher.
1883 .- Jac. W. Leyder.
1884 .- Peter G. Shelley.
1885 .- Robert T. Bastress.
CHAPTER XX.
MONROE TOWNSHIP.
THE territory that now comprises the town- ship was embraced in Fermanagh from 1762 to 1767, when it became part of Penn township upon its erection in that year, 1767. In 1772 it seems to have become a part of Greenwood, although no court action is found confirm- ing it, yet its assessment indicates that npon the erection of Northumberland County, in 1772, it was assessed to Greenwood. It so remained until Greenwood was divided, in 1858, action being confirmed July 24th in that year, and Monroe became No. 1 in the division.
It is bounded on the north by Snyder Coun- ty and is separated from it, the greater part of the line, by Mahantango Creek ; on the west by Fayette township and a small part of Dela- ware at the southwest corner ; on the south by Greenwood and Susquehanna townships.
The streams are the Mahantango Creek and its tributaries, of which Quaker Run is the largest, and the head-waters of Cocolamus and Little Cocolamns Creek. The settlements are Richfield and Evandale.
The first settlements of this township were made by settlers who came up the Susquehanna River and followed up the Mahantango Creek from where Thomas MeKee, the trader, had
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JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
settled at its mouth. Probably the first to become permanent settler in the vicinity was John Graybill, in 1772, who located across the creek from Richfield, in what is now Suy- der County. The Shelleubergers probably cane next.
The first of the Shellenbergers to settle in this section of country was John, who came to this country from Geneva, Switzerland, in the ship " Friendship," with his wife and children. After coming up the Susquehanna River to Liy- erpool, then made their way to the mouth of the Mahantango Creek and up that creek to near what is now Richfield. Here, in what is now West Perry township, Snyder County, John Graybill settled in 1772, and his sous had taken up land on the south side of the creek. Jolm Shellenberger settled here a short time, but did not purchase, and about 1780 went to what is now Good-Will, in Fayette township, and purchased part of a tract of land of James Martin, which was warranted by his father David, in 1774, and where David Shellenberger, the youngest son of John, settled, lived and died. John Shellen- berger had three sons -- John, Peter and David -- and two danghters-Catherine and Maria.
John Shellenberger, about 1784, bought a tract of land of Peter Graybill, which he war- ranted March 7, 1775, and part of which he sold to Peter Shellenberger October 6, 1807. He lived on land now owned by Samnel Puhl- man. Ilis children, with the exception of Christian, went West. He settled on the home- stead. In 1790 John Shellenberger, Jr., was assessed on two hundred acres of land, a saw- mill and a thirty-gallon distillery. The sons of Christian are living in the vicinity.
The tract lay west of the tract on which Rich- field is situated. Next west Peter Shellen- berger purchased a large traet, which he patent- ed in two patents, one in 1812, the other in 1816. In 1790 he owned two Imidred acres. This tract embraced Evandale. He bought a fract, on March 28, 1791, of Ludwig Gos, which was warranted to Jacob Reice and sold to Gos August 26, 1786.
The sons of Peter were John, Christian, Jo- soph, Jonathan, Peter, Isaac ; daughters, Eliza- beth, Sarah and Catherine,
Jolm settled on part of the old home- stead, where his son Christian settled. Chris- tiam settled in Pfoutz Valley; Joseph, near Oakland, and later moved to the West ; Jon- athan, on part of the homestead, which his father deeded to him June 4, 1831, and where he still resides ; Peter, in Ploutz Valley, later in Snyder County ; Isaac emigrated to Ohio ; Elizabeth married Samuel Myers and settled near Me Veytown ; Sarah become the wife of Peter Graybill and settled back of Richfield ; Catherine married Michael Lauver and moved to Illinois.
Jacob Auker, in 1786, took up a warrant for three hundred acres of land on the banks of Mahantango Creek, about a mile below Riceville, on which he built a grist and saw-mill about 1793, which he ran until his death, in 1811. His son, Jacob was a miller and continued it. In Novem- ber, 1821, the property was divided, and Henry Anker, one of the heirs, purchased the property. A few years later the mill property passed to An- drew Kohler, who kept it many years. The mill, about 1857, was built on the other side of the creek, in Snyder County, where it now stands. A store was kept at the mills from about 1818 to 1830 by --- Clarkson. A school-house was built there, tanght by Mes. Hannah Caveny. In later years Pine Church was built on the other side of the creek.
The sons of Jacob Auker were Jacob, Henry, Christian and Emanuel. Henry Auker sold the property to Andrew Kohler, and moved, about 1822, to Fayette township, in the south- cast corner, at the Delaware township line, where he was murdered in 1860.
Emanuel lived near Richfield several years, and moved to Snyder County, where he still lives, at the age of eighty-two years.
Jacob Py le was one of the carly settlers with the Shellenbergers,and located west of the John Shellenberger tract (Samuel Pehhan farm). He had sons,-George, Jolm, Smmmnel and Jacob. Samuel settled on the home place, which is now owned by John Rine, of Richfield. John lives about a mile northwest of Richfield, in Suyder County, and is now over eighty years of age.
The land in the northwest corner of the township was taken up on warrant by Michael
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JUNIATA COUNTY.
Lauver abont 1786. It lay back of Evandale and on the line of Juniata and Snyder Counties. His sons were John, Heury, Michael, Christley, Frederick and Balzer. The sons, with the ex- ception of Michael, who was a tailor, were all blacksmiths. John, in 1797, took up a small traet east of MeAlisterville, where he built a blacksmith-shop and dwelling, and in 1810 bought the first lot in the new town of MeAlis- terville and moved his shop to that place. Later he sold to his brother Henry, and bought a farm now owned by JJohn Gerhart, where he settled and died. Henry settled in Me Alister- ville, and later in Liverpool. Jacob settled on the old farm several years, was with his brother Henry in Liverpool a few years, and in 1830 settled where the Lauver Mennonite Church now is and where his son Renben, also a black- smith, now resides. Christian, or Christley, was living in 1878, at the age of eighty-three years. Balzer at one time owned considerable of the east part of the town-lots of MeAlisterville, and now, over eighty years of age, lives in Milford, opposite Mifflintown, and a little above. Michael lived in MeAlisterville and was postmaster from 1821 to 1825.
An old blacksmith's account-book, containing many of the old names of this section, and beginning in 1786, is in possession of Mrs. Wil- liam Sellers, near the old Sellers mill, now Ba- shore's. This account-book was doubtless Michael Lanver's.
The land next east of the Michael Lanver tract was taken up by Thomas Hewes, August 1, 1766, on application No. 164, who sold it to Samuel Wallis, a merchant of Philadelphia. It was patented by him as " Hewes' Adven- ture," and contained three hundred and twenty- six acres of land. He sold it, September 4, 1782, to Henry Drinker, also a merchant of Philadelphia. It was adjoining a tract, that then belonged to Jeremiah Lynn aud Gideon Perei- val. A part of this tract was sold to Joseph and Jacob Sellers on February 1, 1791 ; and part Stephen Rees. Drinker owned other land near the tract. Joseph Sellers sold his interest in the land, January 15, 1796, to Jacob Sellers, Jr., and removed to what is now Delaware township ( Hhunphrey's Mill), where he bought
the mill property of John Hamilton, and lived and died there.
Jacob Sellers, Sr., in a German Bible in pos- session of the family, wrote on the title-page, "Come to this plantation in 1793." The next year after the purchase was made, other land was purchased by him and his sons. Jacob built a grist-mill on a branch of the Cocolamus Creek, about 1790, on the site of the old lime-kiln, about two hundred rods from the present mill. On the 25th of July, 1826, Jacob Sellers, Jr., sokl a part of the land to Peter Shellenberger, who later sold to William Sellers one hundred and seventy-nine aeres, on which, in 1846, he built the present mill, now owned by John Bashore. Joseph and Jacob Sellers bought of Henry Drinker a tract of land in 1794, which was sold to Christley Lauver, a sou-in- law. He resided at the mill and continued it some years. This was the land bonghit by Peter Shellenberger.
Jacob Sellers, Sr., died in 1831. ITis children were Joseph, Mary (who married John Brought), George, Barbara, Jacob, Elizabeth (Mrs. George Rothrock), Alvah, William, Ach- sah (Mrs. - Wurtz, who settled in Mifflin County). Mrs William Sellers is now living near the mill far advanced in years. She was a daughter of Jacob Pyle, who was also a settler in this region.
Caspar Wistar, of Philadelphia, took out a warrant for four hundred and thirty-four acres of land April 14, 1794, adjoining Samuel Os- borne, Peter Osborne and Thomas and Bar- tholomew Wistar. In the year 1814 Jacob Marks settled upon the tract, but December 1, 1829, bought the whole tract of George Wilson, who, June 1, 1832, conveyed it to his son, Luke Marks, who is now living upon it at the age of eighty-two years. It lies in Monroe township, near the line of Susquehanna and Greenwood townships. It is now in part owned by Christian Knouse and E. G. Schaeffer, but the greater part still by Luke Marks. His son Joseph lives adjoining, on part of the Samuel Osborne tract. The Thomas and Bar- tholomew Wistar tract lay to the west of the Lake Marks land.
The Sammel and Peter Osborne tracts lay to
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JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
the eastward of the Caspar Wistar tract, and, became the wife of Samuel Van Ormer, of Slim with other tracts they warranted, embraced Valley; John married Julia A. Hopple and moved to Mifflintown ; Robert settled upon the land he bought with his brother Aquilla, and which land later was owned by John Graybill, who patented it March 15, 1835. It is now owned by Samuel Keller, David W. Swartz and others. abont two thousand acres, and were partly in what is now Snyder County. It came to the possession of Peter Osborne, and was known as the Osborne Survey, and was nocultivated and wild land. On the 8th of November, 1815, Joseph Osborne, a son of Peter, sold seventeen hundred and fifty acres of it to Richard Strode, James, also a son of Aquilla Burehfield, Sr., married Rachel Cookson and settled in the val- ley for a time, and in 1812 lived in Mifflin- town; in 1829, moved to Milford, where he lived a few years and returned to near Mifflin- town and below, where he died, February 27, 1861, aged eighty-seven years. His wife, Rachel, died the next year. They had lived as husband and wife for sixty-eight years. Judge Lewis Burchfield, of Milford, is a son of James and Rachel Burchfield. who, in January, 1849, sold it to Jesse Dickey and Dr. R. B. Dilworth, of Chester County, who at once erected a large saw-mill on Ma- hantango Creek, and began an extensive lumber business. Dickey soon after returned, and Dr. Dilworth conducted the business until his death, a few years later. The property was sold ont about 1859, in smaller tracts, and passed into the hands of many owners. In 1877, S. Snyder, J. Barges, M. Minich Zandt and others had saw-mills on the tract which embraced the lower part of Quaker Valley.
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