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. 2, Pt. 1 > Part 26
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. 2, Pt. 1 > Part 26
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. 2, Pt. 1 > Part 26
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. 2, Pt. 1 > Part 26
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. 2, Pt. 1 > Part 26
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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
EARLY LOCATIONS,-Among the earliest land located in Carroll township was three hun- dred and twenty-two acres of William West, warranted April 7, 1755. Some of this land is in Spring township, in the history of which a
sketch of the family is given. The portion of the West lands in Carroll is now owned by Samuel Comp. Adjoining William West's land below, and extending in a narrow strip along Sherman's Creek for nearly a mile, Francis West took up seventy-nine acres, June 5, 1762. A small part of this tract, with other lands, formed the Gibson farm. Farther down the creek James Louther, in 1793, warranted fifty acres, now owned by Christian Stouffer. On February 3, 1755, George Smiley warranted two hundred and twelve acres which joins land of the Cunningham heirs on the east. Below, but down the creek some distance, William Smiley, on February 3,, 1755, warranted two hundred and forty-one acres. This tract lay along the ereck for two miles, and includes part of the village of Shermansdale. Thomas Smiley, March 12, 1793, warranted four hun- dred and twenty-four acres. March 21, 1768, he located a tract now northeast of Shermans- dale, a part of which was sold to Christian Rathfon, January 7, 1831, and has become in succession the property of Aaron Kellogg, Henry Brown, Mrs. Mary Mchaffic, William Shatto and, on August 6, 1869, passed into the hands of John HI. Jones, its present owner. The Smileys were long the largest owners of land in the township, and have been promi- nent in the carly and later periods of its history. Win. Smyley, or Smiley, mentioned above, was a citizen of Hopewell township, Cumberland County. His sous, some of whom took up land in this county at the same time that the father did, were Samuel, Thomas, John and George. Samuel came into possession of what William Borrell now owns. Thomas' lands are those on which William Smith lives; John's those of Wm. Stouller and heirs of David Dunkleberger ; George's, by warrant and in- heritance, all the property hereinafter described as given to his heirs. Samuel had one son, George, who died on the Borrell place. Thomas left the county. John was the father of two sons, -William and John ; William received the property now owned by Wm. Stouffer and others, and John the Dunkleberger farm. The heirs of George Smiley were Frederick, David, George, James, Elizabeth, Jane, Margaret,
1
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Mary and Sarah. His large estate was divided as follows: Frederick received the farm now owned by his son Berryhill ; David, the proper- ty of S. C. Grier, later of his son-in-law, D. P. Lightner; George, the farm of Henry Wolf, later of Thomas Morrow's heirs; James, in later years bought the old mansion tract of George Smiley, Sr. ; Jane, became the wife of George Barnett, of New Bloomfield, and died in March, 1877, at the extreme age of ninety-three years.
Of the descendants living in the township, George Smiley, son of James, owus his father's mamsion farm, and John the old Me Allister tract. Wilson, owner of the foundry at Sher- mansdale; William A., who lives on part of the old Philip Foulk property; Mrs. Jane MeCas- key, postmistress at Shermansdale, and Marga- ret, wife of John S. Henderson, of Shermans- dale, are children of William, son of John Smiley, who was the son of the original settler. Hon. Charles A. Smiley, of New Bloomfield, is a son of Samuel, son of David Smiley.
Opposite the William Smiley tract, across the creek, was John Downey's land, one hundred and fifty aeres, on order of survey dated July 25, 1767 ; surveyed May 9, 1769, now in pos- sessson of Samuel McCord and David Dunkle- berger's heirs. Below this, on the sharp bend or loop of the ereck, is the Adam Zerger tract of over four hundred acres, taken np about 1766 by John Downey, and it later was owned by William Morey, and after him by George Sweger, Adam Zerger, the present owner, ste- cecding him. William Shearer also owns part of the traet.
Near the Adam Zerger property, and joining it on the south, Stephen Duncan, about 1793, warranted three hundred and eleven aeres. It was later known as the William Eckels prop- erty and is now owned by Wilson Shearer and Sammel G. Smith.
William Boyd, by right of warrant dated September 6, 1793, for one hundred and five acres, settled on lands now in the eastern part of the township ; was a native of Ireland and first settled in Cumberland County as a black- smith ; moved to his land in 1793 ; built sey- oral blacksmith forges and began the man-
facture of nails. His iron was brought over the mountain from Carlisle. It was then slit by him into rods and manufactured by hand into nails. Hissons-Matthew, Gondie and William-were all at work at their fires, and continued mann- facturing until after 1820. The farm was also tilled by them. Later in life Goudie Boyd purchased a farm now I F. Hollenbangh's, in C'entre township, and died there. William succeeded to the property. Charles Downing, of Fio Forge, bought the old Boyd farm. W. A. Sponsler, Esq., of New Bloomfield, is now the owner.
Robert Bunting, March 21, 1768, on a war- rant, took up two hundred and fifty-one acre-, but when surveyed, five hundred and sixty-two acres were found in the tract. This land lies in the western part of the township, and includes the Benjamin Cunningham property, which has descended to his heirs, and the James Henderson land, which passed into the possession of George Smiley, then to George Beaver, and now be- longs to the Anthony family ; the James Diven heirs owned a part of the Bunting warrant, which passed from their hands to Jacob Stouf- fer, and is now owned by Henry Souder.
Adjoining the Bunting tract on the east Melchor Miller, under a patent to George West, March 12, 1793, become owner of a large tract which at his death descended to his children. Daniel received the John Sweger farm ; David sold his share of the estate to Lawrence ITipple, at whose death it was purchased by William Sheaffer, its present owner. Mrs. Henry Lackey, a daughter, fell heir to a large part of the farm now owned by her son, Carson Lackey. A portion of the John Murphy tract is also included in the Lackey property. Ste- phen Miller, a son of David, became Governor of Minnesota during the Rebellion, and Jolu T. Miller, a son of Daniel, was elected sheriff of Perry County in 1865.
South of the Lackey farm John Moore war- ranted three hundred acres, Angust 6, 1794. This tract is now owned by John Sweger and Joshna Wilson.
Adjoining John Smiley, Robert Sample and others, Thomas Mehaflic took up one hundred and twenty acres, September 27, 1816. This
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land lies south of the Melchor Miller warrant and is the property of George Robinson.
The Sternberger farm, once owned by Fred- erick MeCaskey, who, in 1820 was assessed with one hundred and fifty acres. Frederick MeCaskey came from Scotland in childhood, and first lived in Allen's Cove, Penn township. Later he re- sided with George Barnett for nearly twenty years, when he settled in Carroll, where he bought land from William Murphy. He died February 9, 1857. Of a large family of chil- dren, Sarah, wife of George W. Smiley, is the only one living in the county. The property is in the possession of John Sternberger at the present date.
Near Sterrett's Gap, John White warranted two tracts of land, on April 1-1, 1788, and May 7, 1792, one hundred and ten and one hundred acres, respectively.
Thomas White, warranted April 14, 1788, one hundred and fifty acres, and May 7, 1792, fifty acres. On these lands, along a mountain run emptying into Fishing Creek, the Whites built a saw and fulling-mill about 1802.
In 1820 John White, Sr., was assessed with two hundred aeres ; John White, Jr., two hun- dred acres and a saw-mill ; and James, also a son of John, Sr., on two hundred and eighty acres and a fulling-mill.
John White, Sr., died about 1833 and his property desceuded to his sou. James went West, where he died.
S. C. Grier became owner of the farm some years ago, and at his death D. P. Lightner suc- ceeded to it. The mill properties were owned by ,James S. Sykes, and since his death have been run by Henry Sykes, his son. Adam Nace owns the old White saw-mill now.
Thomas Sutch came to Carroll with its ear- liest settlers, some time before 1775, and took up the land now owned by George 1. Shuman and Jacob Losh. He had one son, George, to whom the farm descended aud he lived on it till his death. His sons were Thomas, John and James.
Thomas and John settled on the old home- stend, but dohm, in 1821, moved to Shermans- dale and kept tavern in the old Smiley Hotel, later the property of W. T. Dewalt. He after-
wards settled on a branch of Sherman's Creek, two miles from Shermansdale, where he built a saw-mill, now gone.
Adjoining Thos. Sutch and George Smiley, Anne Campbell, November 25, 1793, took ont two warrants-four hundred and eight acres. At her death the property passed to John Cor- mau, her son-in-law, and portions of it at a later date to Andrew Hartman, Jacob Ensminger and others. Win. Nesbit and D. T. Morrow bought parts of the original tract about 1866, and B. F. Hall, April 4, 1867, a portion of it. The lauds warranted are now owned by Adam Finnicle, Thos. Morrow, Jacob Sloop and B. F. Hall.
Win. Wallace, July 7, 1785, warranted three hundred and sixty-nine acres adjoining George Smiley, Joseph Wilson, Joseph Lindsey and Edward West. Wm. Gladden, September 8, 1796, purchased two hundred and nine acres, and on March 30, 1798, sold the greater por- tion to John Hunter. On May 5, 1800, Abra- ham Jacobs became owner, and at his death his son Abraham, who held the property until Feb- ruary 26, 1866, when B. F. Hall bought it.
North of Iron Ridge, Enoch Lewis took up a tract of one hundred and eleven aeres Febru- ary 8, 1793, and on October 30, 1802, conveyed it to Win. Rogers, at whose death Rosama Hoge became excentrix and patented it May 19, 1815. This property is now owned by II. J. Sonder. Lewis owned at one time nearly one thousand acres, and, in connection with John Rinchart, who warranted one hundred acres April 10, 1791, located nearly all of what is now known as " Sandy Hollow." Jacob Frown- felter and Ilenry Lackey, at a later date, were owners of laud in the district. Henry F. Smith is the present owner of the Rinehart tract ; he bought it from his unele, Solomon Smith. The State road runs through the Lewis tract. The present road through the Sandy Hollow was laid out in 1830, and the public road about 1833. Among the owners of the Lewis tract are Samuel Kitner, Joshua Kitner, James Kituer, A. P. Smith and Henry F. Smith.
William Rogers, an adjoiner of Enoch Lewis, on the 9th of March, 1787, warranted one hun-
£
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JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
dred and twenty acres, which is now owned by David Hess.
William MeKee took up September 9, 1767, and surveyed to Hugh Ferguson November 22, 1785. Ile warranted three hundred acres which adjoined Enoch Lewis. The farm of Thomas Un-ton (later John Huston, and now William Stambaugh) and the properties of Christian Forrer, Samuel Kepperly and others are parts of this traet.
Northeast of these tracts Andrew Porter located three hundred acres adjoining Wm. Me- Kee, on warrant of 220 of March, 1793. This tract is now the farm of Geo. Kling (once known as the Fred. Fleming property), Jacob Bruner's heirs and Christian Forrer. On the farm of the Bruner heirs (formerly Fred. Speek's) there is a famous camp-meeting ground. Open- air services were begun in the grove, near an excel- lent spring, fifty years ago, and meetings in the same place have been held ahnost annually since that time. The Methodist and United Brethren denominations have both used the grounds, no one denomination claiming it exclu- sively.
Anthony Kimmel, before 1820, purchased land on Fishing Creek. In that year he had a grist and saw-mill. At his death (1823) his son, Peter Kimmel, succeeded him in the mill- ing business, and built an oil-mill, large quan- tities of flaxseed being used in the manufacture of linseed oil. On the 1st of April, 1850, William Messinger, administrator of Anthony Kimmel, sold the mill property to George Fleisher, who is its present owner.
Alexander Shortess acquired a large property ; on Fishing Creek he had a saw-mill, which was run by Alexander Lackey, but has since gone to ruin. Alexander Lackey bought the property from Shortess, and it descended to his son Ben- jamin.
Over sixty years ago Alexander Shortess sold a part of his land to Henry Bentzel, which was afterwards bought by Daniel Comp, and by him sold to Simcon Kitner, the present owner. Carson Hair also owns a part of the original Shortess tract .
Before 1820 Jacob Stouffer built a grist and saw-mill and a distillery. In 1820 Jacob Stoul'-
fer was assessed with two hundred acres and his mills; the property was sold to William Ram- sey, Esq. At his death, in 1831, the property was sold to Adam Fisher, at whose death it passed to John Grier. Jolm Loucks became the next purchaser, and from him it is called Loncks' Mill. George Albright is now it- owner.
Jacob Stouffer, about 1827, bought five acres near Shermansdale and thereon built a grist and saw-mill. Jacob Billow bought it; from him it received its name of to-day. It changed hands frequently, William Welsh, Jacob Billow, Samuel Rebert, Henry Brown, Samuel Rebert owning it in turn; lastly owned by Jeremiah Smith.
Jacob Stouffer died about 1851; his three sons were Jacob, Christian and William. Chris- tian owns a saw-mill on Sherman's Creek ; William is a resident of Shermansdale ; JJacob is deceased.
Groghan's or Sterrett's Gap received the name Croghan's Gap from George Croghan, who, as early as 1747, was an Indian trader. His cabin was five miles from Harris' Ferry. On April 20, 1795, Ralph Sterrett and his brother took up lands in this vicinity. It is from this family that the gap received its second name. The first tavern on the mountain at this point was kept by one Buller, as anthorities give it. Descendants of the Sterretts came into possession of it, who soon sold it to William Ramsey, Esq., of Carlisle, at one time Congress- man from this district. In a mortgage dated June 26, 1830, the Ramsey property " in Rye township" included "850 acres, two fulling- mills, a woolen-factory, three dwelling-houses, one wagon-maker's shop, stable, shed, and part of Tavern-house on Sterrett's Gap and part of orchard at same place." By right of mortgage, President James Buchanan became owner, and in 1835 was assessed as owning two hundred and fifty acres and a fulling-mill. He sold to William S. Ramsey and Albert C. Ramsey, sons of William Ramsey and Sterrett Ramsey, and they, in 1818, parted with it to Benjamin Kuntz. The hotel property now belongs to Jolm T. Sheibley. Daniel Gallatin, in 1820, was landlord at this stand and afterwards at Sher-
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mansdale. In his later days he moved to New Bloomfield, where he died.
Among the industries of William Ramsey at the gap was the "Stevens Factory." On September 22, 1820, George Stevens came to the filling-mill in Perry County and was sue- ceeded by his sons, John C.and Thos. J. Stevens.
John C. Stevens was at the Conrad Hollman mill, in Spring township, prior to 1829. In April, 1830, he was managing the Union Factory, as it was then called. At this time the Ramsey manufactories included the fulling and dyeing-mill, a woolen-factory, carding- mill, axe-factory, a tilt-hammer, blacksmith- shop, wagon-maker's shop and saddler-shop. A large store was built and is still in use. Thos. J. Stevens was engaged with his brother in run- ning the factories. In June, 1835, he was agent for the mills, then owned by J. Me- Kinney, they having passed from his hands a short time before, and in May, 1837, we find him at the Centre Factory. After Ramsey's death, in 1831, all these industries declined, and now have been abandoned, and the buildings Thomas J. Stevens, after he left the gap, man- aged a carding and fulling-mill on Pisgah Run, near its entrance to Sherman's Creek, built by one Graham, bonght by James Widney. Samuel McCord next became its owner and turned it into a saw-mill, which is still standing but not used.
On the northern slope of the Blue Mon- tains David Lindsay warranted three hundred acres, January 18, 1786; James Sharon, two hundred acres in 1769, adjoining Robert Stewart, who took up what is now known as Stewart's Hollow. Sharon warranted one him- dred and fifty acres, February 23, 1786; Jomm Lawshe, two hundred acres, March 12, 1793; Ephraim Blain, two hundred and fifty acres, February 7. 1793. All the lands lying along the Blue Mountains and sloping north were taken up between the years 1773 and 1794.
Obediah Garwood, in 1767, owned one hun- dred and twenty-fiveacres, and warranted other lands June 12, 1770. In connection with these tracts it may be stated that in 1782 Robert Garwood was assessed with a grist-mill.
A large portion of the warrants above emunerated were included in the Lamberton property at a later date. James Lamberton's heirs, in 1835, were assessed with five hundred and fifty acres and a saw-mill. The mill was sold to Edwin Sykes about 1850, and is now owned by W. T. Dewalt. Among the other owners of the Lamberton property are Theodore Brownawell and J. A. Speck.
Mary Ramsey warranted two hundred and eleven acres June 8, 1767. A great part of this tract lies in Wheatfield township and is known as the old Billow farm, which later passed from - Billow's hands into possession of Peter Robinson. It is now owned by Mrs. Elizabeth Orr. Another part of the same warrant, lying in part in Carroll township, of late date was owned by Frederick Fenninger, and at the present time is the property of William Orr.
Near the above-mentioned warrant Rev. Wil- liam Thompson, June 7, 1768, took up one hundred and fifty-two aeres, known as the Findley and Matlack property, but in 1860 have fallen into decay or have been removed. | Samuel MeClintock became owner. It now belongs to Daniel Billman.
Andrew Boyd, on May 31, 1769, took up three Indred and two aeres, later on, Septem- ber 1787, patented to Matthew Henderson. At his death the property descended to Dr. John Henderson, of Iluintingdon County, who, December 31, 1830, sold it to Jacob Lindley and Frederick Speck, and from them Watson Jenks, Esq., of Philadelphia, purchased it on the 8th of August, 1838. Since that time it has passed through many hands, and is now owned, the south side by Judge B. F. Junkin and the remainder by Kellar Adams and Timothy Matlack.
Joseph Kirkpatrick died in Carroll in 1812, aged about sixty-four years. His children were James, William, Joseph, John, Alexander, Eliz- abeth (Mrs. William Elliot) and Sarah (Mrs. James McCord). The homestead came to Alex- ander, the youngest son, who, February 2, 1823, soll it to Ludwig Coruman, and it is now owned by Wilson Rambo. Isaac settled on one hun- dred and seventy-three aeres adjoining. His sons were Jesse, Richard and Isaac. Jesse inherited
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JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
the property now owned by JJacob Stone, but sold it and went West. Richard received the homestead, and, April 11, 1857, conveyed it to Joseph Way, whose son Jacob now owns it, and emigrated to the West with his family. Isaac settled in New Bloomfield and was drowned at Millerstown, where he was engaged at work, in 1817.
SHERMANSDALE.
The village of Shermansdale stands on the lands warranted to George Smiley, February 3, 1755. It received its name abont 1850, when a post-office was established, mails being then carried once a week from Carlisle by way of Sterrett's Gap. At a very carly date a tavern was built near Shermansdale, of which Thomas Norton, who, in 1848, was living at Steubenville, O., at the advanced age of ninety-six years, and who remembered well the Gibsons, Wests and Smileys of the last century, claimed to be the first proprietor. It may be that this old tavern was identical with the cabin of Geo. Croghan, who, long before 1754, at which time the distance from his cabin to Harris' Ferry was stated as twenty miles, was an Indian trader along Sherman's Creek. It is generally believed that a man named Buller, who kept hotel at Sterrett's Gap, was the first tavern-keeper. Frederick Smiley, in 1821, was keeping tavern there, and David Smiley succeeded him. John Sutch took pos- session in 1824. In 1827, Daniel Gallatin, who is mentioned in connection with the hotel at Sterrett's Gap, took possession and remained until 1833. Jacob Messinger followed and kept it for one year. In 1834, Lewis Mickey, of Cumberland County, bought it from the heirs of George Smiley, and, in 1835, was the only tavern-keeper in the township. He was owner and proprietor until 1851, when his son David, now of New Bloomfield, succeeded him and was landlord until 1857, when he was elected pro- thonotary. It was since rented in turn by John Lonck, W. T. Dewalt, Levi Hair, and was bought by W. T. Dewalt in October, 1863, and he was in possession when the structure was burned, in 1881. A hotel was built by Dewalt, and John A. Speck is proprietor.
The post-office, after remaining a short time at Lonck's Mill, was removed to the hotel, and
its proprietors were for years the postmasters. The office was moved across the ereck to John Smiley's store during his occupancy, and his successors handled the mails until December 1, 1877, when Mrs. Jane MeCaskey, the present postmistress, received her commission.
The school-house was built in 1836. A small log honse was built by Jacob Wolf where Mr. Stauffer now resides. Wilson Smiley, in 1814, built a blacksmith-shop, and, in 1850, a foundry adjoining it. Improvements from this time on have been gradual.
The first store was kept by Daniel Gallatin in the hotel from 1827 to 1830. Michael Egolt then took charge and kept until 1835, when the firm of Joseph Egolf came into possession and remained until 1838, when Joseph Egolf as- simed the whole business until 1847. David Mickey then became proprietor and was there until 1851. Jacobs and Evinger kept until 1853, when David Mickey again resmed the business and kept the store until 1857, when he removed to New Bloomfield. The room then was vacant until 1873, when S. B. Smith & Bro. took charge, and were there until October, 1876, when S. B. Smith removed to the building then owned by W. T. Dewalt, now by David Fair, and remained in the business until February, 1879, when he sold out to Uriah Rearick, and G. W. Smiley sneceeded him in 1881. No store was kept in the old tavern-stand after the occu- paney of S. B. Smith & Co.
Across the creek John Smiley, about 1856, started in the mercantile business, and has been succeeded in turn by William Shatto, Samuel Rebert, George F. Ensminger and George Gib- son.
The Shermansdale bridge was built by Mat- thews, Brailley & Co. (Cornelius Baskins, of Penn township, being in the company), in 1832, for two thousand dollars.
The population of Shermansdale in 1880 was seventy-one.
SHERMANSDALE PRESBYTERIAN CHERCH. -- This church traces its origin from the old Sherman's Creek Church, which first appears on the records of Presbytery, in April, 1778.
" The site is marked by an old grave-yard, on what is
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Rev. Hugh Magill was called to Sherman's Creck Church in 1778, but resigned in 1779. Before and after this time the Presbytery sent supplies. Rev. Joseph Brady was the first pastor at the Swisshehn Church, being installed October 3, 1804. He served until his death, April 24, 1821. Rev. John Niblock was pastor from 1826 till his death, Angust 11, 1830, supplies having filled the pulpit before his pas- torate, after the death of Rev. Brady. Rev. Matthew B. Patterson was installed November 22, 1831, and was pastor until April 13, 1812. Next came Rev. Hezekiah Hanson, from July 17, 1853, till July 8, 1856. At the termination of his ministry this charge was united with New Bloomfield, under Rev. William B. Craig, who served from June 17, 1857, till June 11, 1867, when Dancannon and Shermansdale were separated from New Bloomfield. Rev. William Thompson was called in 1868, and re-
known now ay The Zeigler property, between Fio Forge and Dellville, and where tradition claims that the first white man buried in the county was laid. In it are in- terred ancestors of the Stewarts, and Kirkpatricks, of Dun- cannon and vicinity.
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As early as 1760 the white settlers of Sher- mained until 1873. Duncanon then separated man's Valley (then including nearly all of what from it, and supplies were sent both before and after the pastorate of Rev. S. A. Davenport, ex- tending from 1878 to 1880. Rev. J. J. Hamilton and Rev. J. A. Murray, D. D., were two of these supplies. Rev. J. C. Garver, of the Landis- burg charge, was pastor for one year, ending May, 1884, and Rev. Robert F. McClean, of the New Bloomfield charge, the present pastor, began his ministry there June 1, 1884. is now Perry County) had asked for preachers from Donegal Presbytery, and their request had been granted. In 1766 three churches were organized, viz .: Old Dick's Gap, Centre and I'pper, histories of which are given in their respective townships. "The Church at the Mouth of the Juniata," as it was called in early days (predecessor of the present Duncan- non Church), had preaching first in 1793, and owing to the nearness of this congregation to the Sherman's Creek Church, the latter, in 1801, moved its place of assemblage to " Boyd's," now known as the Matlack farm, and in 1802 to Swisshelm's, later known as the old Moorey place, now owned by Adam Zerger. On April 16, 1829, the congregation was incorporated by act of the Legislature. The old church was sit- nated two miles east of its present site, ou the bank of Sherman's Creek. The building, which was of logs, was used until 18443, when the present church was built on land donated by William Smiley and wife.
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