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 31
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 31
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 31
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 31
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 31
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Under the influence of this mighty man of God the church grew abundantly and prospered a- it never had before, and although he resigned in September of 1873, the prosperity contin- ued under his successor, Rev. Geo. Robinson, who was installed May 1, 1874, and labored until May 18, 1877. After him came the Rev. W. W. Downey, whose pastorate closed Octo- ber 3, 1880. Rev. James Gilland, his successor, remained as pastor until April 9, 1884. The elmarch has been supplied by various pastors until in November of 1885, when a call was tendered to Rev. MeCurdy and accepted.
Elders of the Duncannon Church were or- dained as follows :
Isaac Kirkpatrick, 1804; John Woodburn, 1804; William Patterson, 1804; George McGinnes, 1801; William Irvin, 1826; John Hearsh, 1826 ; Samuel Willis, 1826; Jacob Steele, 1826; James Wilson, 1826; Robert Gailey, 1826; John Mineer, 1845; Thomas White, 1845; John Shoemaker, 1853; John F. Keesbury, 1853 ; William J. Stewart, 1853; James Moore, 1853; David Steele, 1853 ; Moses Kirkpatrick, 1571; Alexander G. White, 1875; John Graham, 1875; George Jacobs, 1875 ; Thomas Milliken, S. L .. Shull, John Hurps.
THE METHODIST CHURCH PROM 1809-86 .- About a quarter of a mile back from the Sus- quehanna River, on the farm now owned by William Morrison, lived one of the pioneers in the settlement, and the first one in the vicinity who opened his house as well his heart for the preaching of the Word according to the Methodist faith. Here, in 1809, at Abraham
the laity gathered from far and near to hear the canse of the comparatively new faith proclaimed, and which old building stands mocenpied back of a modern residence.
This (Young's) was one of the four appoint- ments in the Juniata Circuit at that time; the other three were Liverpool, Alex. Shortess, near Shermansdale, and Pfontz Valley, and in 1809 we're regularly supplied by Revs. Michael Borge and Allen Groen ; in 1810, John Thomas ; 1811, John Gill Watt ; 1812, Nathan Lodge ; 1813-14, John Thomas; 1815, David Stevens; 1816, William Butler and Morris Hoc -; 1817, John Everhart; 1818, James Moor ; 1819, Robert Cadden ; 1820, John Henry ; 1821, Israel Cook; 1822, Thomas Mediee, N. B. Mill and Jacob B. Shepherd ; 1823, Thomas MeGece and John Gier; 1824, Robert Minshall and JJohn A. Gier; 1825, JJa- cob R. Shepherd and J. William Pool. In 1826, Jacob R. Shepherd and Jonathan Munroe were ministers and met with varied snecess.
At this time Christian Young owned the tract now the Charles Godcharles farm, and do- nated, on a high and beautiful site a few rods north of his unele's house, a plot of ground for the purpose of a " burying-ground " and erect- ing a " meeting-house." The growing congre- gation took hold of the project, and under the administration of their pastors and their first official board of trustees,-i. e., Christ. Young, John G. Morgan, John Young, Sr., and Henry Branyan, -- the work was soon completed on the southeast corner of the lot, and in 1827 a twenty by twenty feet building facel the road with its one door; and in the same year the building, with its rude high pulpit and slab seats, was dedicated to the service of the Al- mighty by Rev. John Smith and Oliver Ege.
At the time of erecting the meeting-honse on the Young property on the hill, this appoint- mont was on the Concord Circuit, which ex- tended thonghont Perry County to Concord, in Franklin County, and from thence to Milllin- town, in Juniata County.
In 1810, the trustees, finding need of a larger and more convenient place of worship, the old church was sold to Jacob Keiser, chairman of Young's home, preachers were entertained and ! the school board, for the purpose of a school
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JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
building. After using this house for school pur- poses for a few years it was sold to Jacob Clay, who usel its logs for building a stable in Peters- burg.
A lot fronting in Petersburg, on High Street, and extending back to Church Alley, was pur- chased of Jacob Clay for one hundred dollars, and the trustees began the erection of a church, costing abont thirteen hundred dollars, which is still in use. On New Year's day of 1841 the work was done and the new building conscerat- ed to divine service by Professor (now Bishop) Bowman and Professor John MeClintock (after- wards missionary to Rome), both then of Diek- inson College. They were brought over in a sleigh from Carlisle, by George Bruner for this occasion.
The official board at this time was Jacob Bruner, Sr., Jonathan Beck, Henry Branyan, Abner Van Fossen and George Bruner (all de- ceased, except the last-named), who found it necessary to dispose of two lots of the church property in order to defray expenses, one being sold to John Glass and the other to Robert Jones, Sr.
Here the church grew and prospered under the charge of pastors hereinafter named, and the congregation now munbers two hundred and twenty-five souls.
. In 1882 a handsome and commodious parson- age was erected by the side of the church, at a cost of three thousand dollars. The church property is valued at about three thousand dol- lars.
The present board of stewards are J. Eshel- man, C. Il. Hochlander, Robert Jones, David McCoy, Daniel Rife, Jacob Keel, William Page, William Parsons, George Bruner, James Ny- eum.
The present board of trustees are Thomas Miller, Robert Jones, George Pennell, Samnel Sheller, Henry Brown, J. MeKinzey, William Brown, Joshma Gladden.
The old " Young burying-ground " on the hill is full of graves, and the mounds of the graves of hundreds who once worshipped within the walls of the old log church are the only monuments of this old congregation, save Mr. George Bruner, who, in his seventy-fifth year,
resides in Duncannon, and helped build the fence for the old grave-yard in 1832, and in 1881 inclosed the same lot with a barb-wire fence.
Pennell's Methodist Episcopal Church .- In the year 1815 Andrew Pennell donated a lot on his farm, in Wheatfield township, about three miles north of Duneammon, for the pur- pose of creceting a Methodist Church. Robert Jones, George Bruner and Andrew Pennell were appointed a building committee, and, in a short time, a comfortable stone church was erect- ed and dedicated. It is regularly supplied by the pastor of the Duncannon Church, and has a small membership. The property belong> to the Dimcannon Church.
Duncan's Island Methodist Episcopal Church. -At an early day Rebecca Duncan, of Dun- can's Island, had opened her house for preach- ing and entertaining mini-ters. Afterwards she prevailed npon the trustees of the school district to add an upper story to their new school build- ing at her expense, which was done, and she generously donated the same as a church to the Methodists in that vicinity. Regular services were held in it until the great flood of 1865 (February 20th) washed it away.
The following is a list of the pastors who have served this charge from 1828 to the pres- ent time :
In 1828, John Forrish and John Smith ; 1829, Jon- athan Munroe and Henry Tarring; 1830, Edward Allen and Allen Britten ; 1831, Thomas Taneyhill and Zechariah Jorden; 1832, David Thomas and Damiel Hartman ; 1833, Wesley Howe and David Thomas; 1834, Jacob MeAlly and John Wosborn; 1835, Thomas S. Harding and Robert T. Nixon ; 1836, John Hodge and George Berkstresser; 1837, Da- vid Shaver and Jesse Stansbury ; 1838, David Shaver and John M. Green ; 1839, Peter MeEnally and John Lanahan ; 1840, Peter MeEnally and Jo- soph S. Morris ; 18H, Joseph Parker and John Mc- Clay ; 1842, Charles MeClay and Joseph Parker; 1843, Wm. 11. Enos and E. Teal ; 1844, Win. Enos and Wm. F. Pentz; 1845, F. Dyson and John Ewing; 1846, F. Dyson and W. W. Meminger; 1817, Robert T. Nixon and John Thrush; 1848, George Berkstresser and Wm. Harden ; 1819, George Berkstresser and John lyde; 1850, Oliver Ege und W. Champion; 1851, Oliver Ege and James Beatty ; 1852, Wesley Howe and David C. Wertz; 1853, Wesley Howe and HI. C. Westwood; 1854, W. R. Mills and Job Price;
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PERRY COUNTY.
1855, W. R. Mills and R. E. Wilson ; 1856, G. Steven- son and W. F. Keith (at the close of the Conference year of 1856 Petersburg was separated from Newport and made a Station) ; 1857-58, 'C. D. Gotwalt ; 1859-60, Jolm Stine; 1861-62, D. Hartman; 1863, S. L. McCowrer ; 1864-65, James Brads; 1866-67-68, B. H. Gibson ; 1869-70, G. T. Gray ; 1871-72-73, C. Grabam ; 1874, G. Leidy ; 1875-76-77, W. T. Keith ; 1878-79, W. Rink ; 1880, McCord; 1881-2, J. Ellis Bell; 1883, B. F. Stevens; 1881-85, B. F. Stevens.
CHRIST'S LUTHERAN CHURCH .- A minber of Lutheran families settled at Petersburg and its vicinity soon after the town was located. These had no church of their own nearer than New Buffalo or Fishing Creek, both some five or eight miles off. It was chiefly through the exertions of Dr. Philip Ebert that they secured a pastor. When the West Pennsylvania Synod held its sessions at New Bloomfield in September, 1842, he prevailed on Rev. Berg to visit Peters- burg and the members scattered along the west bank of the Susquehanna as far np as Liverpool. This was the beginning of the forming of the congregation at Petersburg. In November, 18-12, Rev. Andrew Berg commenced his pastoral la- bors in the Methodist. Episcopal Church, every four weeks. At the close of December, 1842, the congregation was regularly organized, when the following members were elected and install- ed as its officers : Elder, George Keim ; Deacons, Jonathan Michener and Dr. Philip Ebert.
At its first comummion, held on the Ist of January, 1843, the congregation consisted of seventeen members. On the 4th day of June, 1813, the first class of catechinens, mimboring eighteen persons, was received as members of the congregation by confirmation.
Rev. Berg resigned in June, 1843, and in October, 1843, Rev. L. T. Williams became the pastor. A building committee, consisting of Andrew Hantz, Dr. P. Ebert and Edward Mil- ler, was appointed, and, on May 19, 1844, the corner-stone of the new building was laid. This new structure, built of stone, and forty feet square, was dedicated on the 10th day of No- vember, 1811.
Rev. Williams resigned in September, 1815, and his successor, Rev. Lloyd Knight, entered upon his duties as pastor October 1, 18 15.
Rev. Knight resigned in June, 1819, and was succeeded in July, 1849, by Rev. Jacob Martin.
In February, 1850, the Petersburg (now Duncannon) congregation was, with Mount Pis- gah, Mount Zion, in Fishing Creck, St. David's (or Billow's), at Dellville, and that at New Buf- falo, formed into a pastorate. In June, 1850, Rev. Martin resigned, and Rev. John P. Hies- ter took charge of the newly-formed pastorate. Rev. Hiester resigned in November, 1858, and in June, 1854, Rev. George A. Nixdorfl' sue- ceeded him. Rev. Nixdorff resigned in May, 1858, and Rev. W. H. Diven took charge Au- gust 22, 1858. An extensive revival in religion in 1860 resulted in the addition of many mem- bers to the congregation.
Rev. Diven resigned in 1862, and on Jann- uary 1, 1863, one Rev. Kinsel came upon the ground as pastor, and left July 1, 1863. On the 5th of August, 1863, Rev. S. Anghe (now Prof. S. Aughe, LL.D., of Lincohi, Neb.) became the pastor, and resigned on the 6th of November, 1861. January 22, 1865, his successor, Rev. M. L. Culler, came upon the ground, and after about two years of service resigned, and was succeeded by Rev. J. E. Honeyentt, April 1, 1867. The records give the name of Rev. M. L. Heisler as a supply in 1870. The next reg- ular pastor was Rev. P. B. Sherk, who resign- ed in November, 1873. Rev. S. E. Herring now comes in as a supply, the next regular pastor being Rev. J. J. Kerr, who resigned about the close of the year 1878. It was, per- haps, about the close of 1882 when Rev. G. W. Crist, Rev. Kerr's snecessor, resigned. The congregation was now for a short time supplied by Rev. A. F. Yeager, and from August, 1883, to January 1, 1881, by Rev. H. F. Long. On the Ist day of January, 1884, Rev. HI. F. Long be- came the regular pastor, and at this date (October 19, 1885) continues to serve the charge, now con- sisting of Christ's Church, in Dincannon, the old Billow's Church, at Dellville and Marys- ville as a preaching-point. In June, 1885, the old square stone church of Dimcannon was torn down, and on the 2d day of August, 1885, the corner-stone for a new church building was laid ; Rev. A. H. Fischer preached the seraion.
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JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
It was dedicated November 29, 1885, with ap- propriate services conducted by the pastor and the Reys. Il. F. Long, I. J. Kerr, of Altoona, and J. Il. Menges, of Philadelphia. It is a frame structure, thirty-four by fifty-five, with Gothic door and windows, tower in front and centre, and cost about two thousand six hun- dred dollars. The building committee consists of'S. H. Moses, John Shively and B. F. West ; the last-named is also the contractor.
Present church council : Elders, Samuel Noss and Jonathan Michener ; Deacons, Philip F. Michener and II. C. Renz ; Trustees, S. II. Moses, Jonathan Michener and P. F. Michener. The congregation has suffered much loss and numbers only tity members. It is united with the Sound of Central Pennsylvania, one of the Smiley, Charles Glas- and Cornelius Baskin-
District Synods belonging to the General Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the United States,
THE GERMAN REFORMED CHU Ret .-- From the St. David plant at Dellville (which sce) many persons in this vicinity lifted their membership and on the 16th of May, 1868, organized this society in the United Presbyterian Church, which had been erected in 1852.
The building which the congregation then purchased was used, and is still in good condi- tion, and will accommodate two hundred and fifty persons.
Among its first members, Lewis Harling, John Achenbach, James Kass and Frederick Wahl, Sr., are still in active membership. The former two, as trustees, have held the position of trustees since the organization. The firstellers were, Frederick Wahl, Sr., and George F. Moyer ; deacons, Lewis Sommers and John Achenbach. The present board of ellers are John Achenbach, George Martin and Lewis Sommers, The deacons are Dr. John U. Hoobach, Frederick Wahl, dr. and Heury Gelbach.
Rev. W. D. C. Rodrock, Rev. Henry Wiss- ler, Rev. U. Il. Heilman with the present pastor, Rev. James R. Lewis, are the successive pastors from its date of organization.
THE UNITED BRETHREN CONGREGATION .- About twenty members of the United Brethren in Christ constituted the membership which
built and dedicated the first building on Church Avenne in 1851, with Rev. Win. Raber, now deceased, as their pastor.
The building was repaired several times, and in 1884 was remodeled, repainted and rededi- call. Its first official board was Jesse Owens, N. Reed, John Suyder and E. Fenstermacher.
At different times the congregation has suf- fered severely, many of its members removing to the West. Despite this it has grown and prospered and now has a membership of one hundred and fifty persons, with Rev. A. R. Avers, of the Pennsylvania Conference, as it- pastor. John Snyder, George Wetzell, Wm. C. Shatto, George Morris, S. Roller, David Spen-e, John Parsons. L. Gintzer, I. Seiders, Hany
constitute its present official board.
CHURCH OF GOD .- In the month of May, 1871, Edgar Graybill seenred the use of the Lower Dancanton school-house for the purpose ¡of having Rev. J. M. Speccc, of' Shippensburg, to preach to the few members of his faith then in this community.
The meetings were well attended and Elder G. W. Selheimer alternated during the year. In 1872, Elder J. Cooper was appointed by the East Pennsylvania Eldership, and began a re- vival in June which prospered and added a number of new members to the society, which then aggregated twenty-nine souls. Among these members a local organization was effected, and Edgar Graybill and Henry Clay were chosen ellers and Christian Keene, John Keene, Win. Mutzabangh and Josiah Manning deacons,
The question of building a house of worship was settled by purchasing for two hundred dol- lars a lot on Lincoln Street and erecting a sub- stantial Bethel. Rev. John Ilunter was the pastor from 1871 to 1876; Rev. R. M. Pine, April, 1876, to August, 1876, when he resigned from ill health, and Elder S. B. Howard filled his nexpired term.
At this time 11. Clay, E. Graybill and d. Berkstresser were elected elders and .1. Manning, Samuel Fissell and B. R. Boyer as deacons, Roy. J. M. Gris-inger was the next pastor, who alternated with I. M. Still until April 1, 1879, when Rev. G. W. Coulter took charge until 1881.
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PERRY COUNTY.
During Rev. C. I. Behney's year of pastoral are, who came next, J. R. Shellenberger and Jacob Sterner were elected deacons. From April until November of 1882 Rev. W. J. Greissinger served, when Rev. J. W. Miller took charge and filled the position of pastor until November 15, 1885, when his successor, the present incumbent, Rev. O. E. Huston, was called to fill this field of labor. The present elders are B. R. Boyer, E. Graybill and II. Clay; dencons are William Morrison, Eher E. Holland and Levi Burch.
EVERGREEN LODGE, No. 205, OF THE IN- DEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD-FELLOWS, was in- stituted in Petersburg (now Duncannon) on No- vember 26, 1846. It was organized by the following-named officers, viz. : W. J. Stewart, Noble Grand ; Wm. Allison, Vice-Grand ; Joseph D. Simpson, Secretary ; John Charters, Assistant Secretary ; John Shearer, Treasurer. The number of members initiated into this lodge up to October 1, 1885, 426; number of deaths during that time, 52; the number of members in regular standing October 1, 1885, 126. The present officers are as follows : Il. D. White, Noble Grand ; John N. Wert, Vice- Grand : B. Hale Branyan, Secretary ; David E. Wert, Assistant Sceretary ; Samuel Sheller, Treas- urer ; Representative to the Grand Lodge of the State of Pennsylvania, P. G. John II. MeKinzie.
No prouder monument of its usefulness can be given than its records give us in showing that for the relief of its sick, burying its dead and aiding widows and educating orphans it has expended $19,650.
In connection with this lodge is the now flourishing Clara Rebecca Lodge, No. 65, named in honor of' Grand Sire Nicholson's daughter Clara. It was instituted in 1872, but suspended for a time and was reorganized in May, 1885. The present officers are: Noble Grand, Miss Josie B. Michener; Vice-Grand, Miss Annie Hochlander ; Secretary, Miss Maud Miller ; As- sistant Secretary, ---; Treasurer, Mrs. Harry Jones; Conductor, Miss Emma Young ; Inside Guardian, Mrs. Lizzie Miller ; Outside Guardian, Crist Mutzabaugh ; Warden, David McCoy. The object is for social im- provement and charitable purposes.
VAUTLEBURG LODGE, NO. 288, KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS .- In the hall of Mechanics' Lodge, room, on April 8, 1871, this lodge was form- ally instituted by T. J. Sheibley, D. D. G. C., with thirty-one members, and was officered as fol- lows : P. C., Alex. Hayes ; C. C., James Morri- son ; V. C., Geo. W. Derick ; M. A., Edgar Grabill; K. R. S., J. W. Brown; M. F., J. B. Spahr; M. of E., Jos. Mayall; I. G., Geo. W. Shearer ; O. G., C. W. Ruby.
The regular meetings were held here notil April, 1880. The room now in use in the Sheller building, on High Street, was fitted up for their place of meeting. The lodge is in a prosperous condition, having buried but seven of its members since organization.
It meets every Saturday evening in its hall, and is officered at present with .A. J. Hinkle, P.C .; S. Fissell, C. C .; E. B. Coup, V. C .; C. A. Jones, P .; J. W. Wilson, M. of A. ; G. W. Derick, K. R. S. ; J. G. Kugler, M. F. ; II. J. Jones, M. E. ; W. I. Reed, I. G. ; W. B. Yohe (deceased), O. G.
PERRY COUNCIL OF AMERICAN MECHAN- ics .- In the basement of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, on July 2, 1847, was instituted one of the first orders in Duncannon. The officers were as follows : Roswell Shirtluff, Con- eilor ; William Bishop, Vice-Coneilor ; Frank- lin Tile, Rec. See. ; Irwin Chisholm, Asst. Scc. ; James De Silvey, Financial Sec .; and John De Silvey, Treasurer.
After several years of prosperity the tide turned and the council suspended until January 10, 1859, and on the day after Christmas, in 1863, the large and commodious hall erected by the council on High Street was dedicated. The present officers are John W. Parson, Coun- cilor, with Isaac Beam as Vice, while Thomas Milliken, Alexander Drummonds and B. Hale Branyan fill the positions of Recording, Assist- ant and Financial Secretaries respectively, with George Pennell as Treasurer.
RED MEN (JUSKAKAKA TRIBE, No. 96) .- Three days before New Year's of 1869 Past Sachem John A. Shearer, of' Marysville Lodge, instituted the tribe of Red Men known as Juskakaka Tribe, in the Fleming building, on Front Street. The charter granted bore the
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JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
names of eighteen members, and the new lodge was officered as follows: Sachem, John A. Shearer ; Senior Sagamore, William Shiras ; Junior Sagamore, William A. Van Fossen ; Prophet, John Bolton ; Chief of Records, P. F. Michener ; Keeper of Wampum, R. W. Reed. The next year the place of meeting was changed to Odd-Fellows' Hall, where they continued to meet until the lodge suspended, a few years later. In 1883 it reorganized and now has a member- ship of seventy-five. It meets every Tuesday evening and its present official board is: Sachem, W. F. Shaub ; Sr. S., C. B. Suyder ; Jr. S., J. A. Shearer, Jr. ; Prophet, S. A. Foose; Keeper of Wampum, W. A. Van Fossen.
LIEUTENANT WILLIAM ALLISON POST, NO. 196, G. A. R .- This post was organized Oc- tober 2, 1880, with W. V. B. Copin, of Mifflin- town, J. R. Cockley and James Sultzman as mastering officers. Forty-four comrades formed the post. The following persons constituted it- first official board : Harvey Fisher, post com- mander ; J. A. Young, senior vice-commander; J. M. Graybill, junior vice-commander ; G. W. Derick, adjutant ; 11. J. Jones, quartermaster ; J. Il. Bleistine, surgeon ; J. IT. Young, chap- lain ; C. C. Derick, officer of the day ; Thomas Green, officer of the guard; J. P. Long, sergeant- major; W. A. Holland, quartermaster-sergeant. The post meets every other week in Mechanics' Hall and has collected a museum of war relics. Besides doing a work of charity, the post pays special attention to the burial of soldiers and sailors and seeing to the welfare of their or- phans.
The following is a list of the present officers : William A. Holland, post commander; HI. J. Jones, senior vice-commander; C. C. Derick, junior vice-counnander ; J. Johnston, adjutant ; J. G. Kugler, quartermaster ; S. Smith, sur- geon ; 11. F. Long, chaplain ; G. W. Enney, officer of the day ; J. Manning, officer of the guard ; C. Ruby, representative; G. W. Enney, alternate; G. W. Derick, commeil of adminis- tration.
This Fna: DEPARTMENT is lacking in a prop- erly organized society to operate the hand fire- engine, which has a room, with its hose and fix- tures, in the town hall at the present time. It
was purchased, about 1879, by a subscription made up by the citizens, and the company was organized with Thomas Milliken as president and Saumiel 11. Moses as secretary and W. J. Righter as captain.
The streets were first lighted by regular street-lamps in 1882, when a set of lamps, using kerosene oil, were erected.
DUNCANNON HISTORY SKETCHES .- On the 17th, 18th and 19th of March, 1865, Duncan- non was inundated along the Susquehanna side to a considerable depth. The lower stories of the dwellings, on the evening of the 18th, were filled to the depth of five or six feet of water. Outside of the loss of poultry and hogs and the cost of re-plastering, re-papering and re-paint- ing the rooms and carting the mud from the half-filled cellars, no serious damage was done by this greatest flood on the Susquehanna of the present century. On Duncan's Island this flood endangered human life, owing to its rapid rising. Jerome Roth hurried his sick wife and children to a place of safety in a carriage, which he pulled himself, while the water was up to his waist, and the cakes of floating ice frequently made him struggle for his life. A Methodist Church, with two school-rooms- underneath, was swept away at the same time. The Jumi- ata bridge was washed away and the Duncannon Iron Company's train of cars, which had been rum on it for a ballast, went down with it. The company's warchouse, on the other side of the river, also was destroyed.
The 4th and 5th of January, 1886, was when Sherman's Creek scored its highest mark, being then thirteen inches higher than the great flood of 1809, and reached the high-water mark on the old Gibson stone grist-mill ("Westover"), near Falling Springs, in 1780, when the water rose to such a height as to run in its lower door.
It was the result of a three-days' rain and melting snow combined, which destroyed seven bridges in its course through the county, and washed out a pier under the Pennsylvania Railroad bridge at its mouth, and caused the precipitation of a freight train into its flood ou the night of the Ith. By this disaster R. M. Turbett, brakeman, Anthony Baldwin, con-
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