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 34
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 34
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 34
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 34
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 34
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60
On the creek above, Jacob Sidell, of Fishing Creek, purchased property and moved a grist- mill from Fishing Creek to the place about 1820. About 1850 the mill property passed to -- Shapley, and in 1855 it was purchased by Dugan & Zerger, who, in 1856, tore down the old mill and built the present mill.
Farther up the erecek Sammel Graham located one hundred and two aeres. The site of Dellville was located by George Moser, who sold to - Loy. In 1810 Christian Smith and Isane Kirk- patrick purchased a small tract of land at what is now Dellville, and in 1 8-11 erected agrist-mill, which they continued until April 10, 1853,
when Smith sold his interest to Daniel Ristine and Jolm Souder. April 1, 1856 Eli Yong bought the interest of Ristine, and in 1861 John Sweger bought the interest of Sonder, which, in 1868, was sold to A. Jacobs, who, in 1877, sold to his son-in-law, Eli Young, who has since owned it. The mill was remodeled in 1871. A store was built at Dellville in 1 855 and first kept by Adam Billow, afterward by many others and now by David Bealor. A post- office was established in 1860, with Eli Yonng as postmaster, who served fourteen years, and was sneceeded by D. P. Lightner, Theodore Bryner, D. G. Owen, Samuel Briggs, W. O. Wallace, Eli Young and Daniel Bealor.
Above Dellville, on the ereck and the Car- roll township line, George Mills warranted a tract of land March 10, 1775.
Northwest from Dellville, on the little stream that joins Sherman's Creek at that place, before 1810, Zachariah Fiuley and Joseph Ecker owned land that was warranted by Andrew Boyd in 1767 and patented .by Matthew Henderson, September 18, 1787. The greater portion of the Boyd-Henderson traet lies in Carroll town- ship. Finley built the stone house in 1843, now owned by Moses Stouffer. April 3, 1857, Fin- ley sold the farm of one hundred and fifty-five acres to George Rinehart.
The land on which John Weldon now lives was in possession of John Stewart, who came from Carlisle over ninety years ago. He was in the War of the Revolution. The children of John Stewart were Jane, who married Thomas Black and settled at Duncannon ; Sarah, who became the wife of John B. Nickey of Penn's Valley ; Richard Stewart, who settled at Clark's Ferry ; William J. Stewart, of Duneanion. His son, Livingston Stewart, who settled near Duncannon, was a son by his second wife. His danguter Susan married John Weldon, and now resides on the old Stewart homestead. Ellen, another daughter of Livingston, married Peter Swisher, and lives near Doncammon. Samuel Potter and Andrew Pennell settled in the cast part of the township soon after 1820. The latter is still living.
Alexander Power, a schoolmaster of Phila- delphia, was in possession of a large tract of
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land in the limits of this township in 1773, and March 27th, in that year, sold it to Samnel Moore. It passed respectively as follows : June 28, 1785, to David Meredith ; December, 1791, to Owen Bruner ; October 7, 1802, to John Ken- age; March 27, 1812, to Alexander Shortess ; March 25, 1820, to Jacob Clay ; and March 13, 1827, one hundred and twenty-three acres, to Benjamin Dunkelberger. John and George Clay bought one hundred and eighty-six acres of Alexander Shortess, October 3, 1819. Nicho- las Clay bought two tractsin 1814 ; one May 4th of John McClintock, and the other June 18th of Barnet Slough. He had other lands, and, March 12, 1822, conveyed the lands above-mentioned John Snyder and Matthias Clay. The fami- ly of Clay are still represented in the township.
The greater part of the tract of land lying between Sherman's Creek and Pine Hill was patented to Samnel Funk, March 15, 1805, who soon sold one hundred and six acres and allowance to John Minnich, and July 5, 1809, it was conveyed to Adam Fultz, who, April 22, 1812, sold it to Peter Billow. After his de- erase, in 1828, it was conveyed, January 31, 1829, to George Billow.
A tavern and distillery was on the place before 1820, and the Billow tavern was a well- known stopping-place, and kept from 1820 many years by George Billow. The place was also known as Billow's Fording until 1836, when a bridge one hundred and sixty feet long was built over the creek at a cost of $2000. There were several of the family that lived in the vicinity, -Jacob, Henry, Martin and George. The latter resided on the homestead until his death, in 1858.
The property then passed into other hands, and is now owned by Mrs. E. W. Orr. The old tavern house is still standing.
Christian Ensminger before 1800 purchased over five hundred and eighty acres of land, mostly in Fishing Creek Valley, but partly on the side of the range of hills-David Ensminger, his son, settled upon the north side, and his de- scondants still reside in the vicinity.
ST. DAVID'S LATHERAN CHURCH .- Thechurch is situated about five miles southwest of Duncan- non, and near the site of the old Fio Forge
Members of the congregations of Mount Zion, Mount Pisgah and Christ's lived in this section of country, and having a desire for preaching near their homes, the Rev. L. T. Williams was invited to preach at the Fio Forge school-house in 1845, which invitation he accepted. The people of the neighborhood, composed also of members of another denomination, united with the Lutherans in erecting a frame meeting- house, which was dedicated November, 1845. Revs. John W. Heim, Jacob Sholl and Lloyd Knight were present and conducted the exer- cises. After the church was consecrated the Rev. Lloyd Knight, who was stationed at New Bloomfield, commenced preaching regularly once every four weeks. The church was organ- ized with twenty-seven members June 20, 1846. In 1848 the membership had increased to forty. Rev. Mr. Knight resigned in June, 1849, and was succeeded July Ist by Rev. Jacob Martin, who preached once in three weeks. In February, 1850, the congregation was united with others to form the Petersburg charge. He resigned July 1, 1850. Rev. John P. Hiester became the pastor in November, 1850, and served until November, 1853. After a vacancy of six months Rev. George A. Nixdorff accepted a call in 1854, and continued until May, 1858; Rev. William, HI. Diven succeeded Angust 22, 1858, and was followed by Revs. Hunnientt and Cutler. For a member of years the church was supplied by students from Gettysburg Theo- logical Seminary.
Rov. Shirk was called in 1875, and was succeeded by Rev. John Kerr about 1877, who continued about two years. The Rev. George Crist was his successor. Rev. Mr. Yeager, of Buck's Valley, served as a supply. Rev. H. F. Long, the present pastor, began his labors in 1883. The church has a membership of ahout thirty. The church is in nion with the Ger- man Reformed congregation, whose pastor is the Rev. James R. Lewis, who has served since 1883. This congregation has about thirty mem- bers.
THE CHURCH OF THE UNITED BRETHREN IN Cumsr is situated on the road from New Bloomfield to Duncannon, it was built as a Union Church in 1811, with the Methodists, but has
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long since been abandoned by the latter society. Rev. John Synder was the first pastor, followed by Revs. John G. Snyder, John Dixon (now bishop), William Raber, Z. A. Colestock, - Ilumberger, George and William Wagner, Jesse Bratton, George W. Beemer, Daniel Burkholder, George W. Kiracofe, A. R. Ayres and S. N. Moyer. The society has a member- ship of about fifty.
THE METHODIST CHURCH, which is in ruins back from the site of Fio Forge, was built over forty years ago, and abandoned about the close of the Civil War. The following are some of the ministers who preached there: Jordan, Holmes, Wright, Swengler, Hamilton, Thompson and White.
PENNELL'S CHURCH .- The church known by the above name is owned by the Methodists and was built of stone in 1857 or '58, on land of Andrew Pennell. The people in the vicinity at that time belonging to the denomination were under the charge of the Rev. T. D. Gotswold, of the Methodist Church of Dancannon. The congregation is yet served by the pastors of that church.'
Sonoons,-As early as 1810 a school-house stood near the site of John J. Craig's present honse, on land of Levi Owen. John Owen was one of the teachers. It was abandoned about 1820, when a log school-house was built near the United Brethren Church, and used until 1848, when the school-house known as Wal- lace, on the Wallace farm, was moved to its present site, and is known as Owen, or Windy Ilill.
Wheatfield accepted the school law in 1835, and received of the publie money one hundred and forty-eight dollars and twenty couts; at that time there were two hundred and thirty- five taxables liable to the school tax. The school directors of the township met at the Clay school-house November 28, 1835, to examine teachers. The Clay school-house, that was standing at this time, was on, or near, the site of Mrs. Maria Price's store, on the road from
( For account of this charge see history of Methodist Church in Duncannon. That account says this church was erected about 1815. h is said to have beco lacht when T. D. Gotswold was pastor, which was in 1867 58.
New Bloomfield to Duncannon and long since abandoned. Fairview school-hon-e, one-eighth of a mile below, takes its place, and was built abont twelve years ago. In October, 1810, the school-houses in the township were Fio, Clay's Wallace, Potter and Watts,
The Fio school house was created soon after the forge was completed, and used nutil 1857, when another was built near Sherman's Creek, which was repaired in the spring of 1885.
The school-house at Weldon's is near Dell- ville, and was built in 1855.
The Potter house was built before the school law came into operation ; the Pennell school now takes its place. The houses in the township are now known as Dellville, or Wel- don, Owen, or Windy Hill, Centre, Sulphur Spring, Pennells and Fairview, at which attend two hundred and nine pupils.
CHAPTER XIX.
JUNIATA TOWNSHIP.'
JUNIATA township occupies a four-sided space intervening between Tuscarora on the north, Oliver on the east, Centre on the south and Sa- ville on the west. It is about seven miles in length by two and a half in average breadth, having an area of about twenty-five square miles.
Middle Ridge is the most conspicuous fea- ture. Ranging in direction from cast by north to west by south, its goutle slopes are everywhere cleared of wood and cultivated to their very tops. Along its top runs the Ridge road from Newport westward through a farming country without villages or hamlets. North and south of this ridge the township is occupied by undu- lating land of less height.
Most of the small streams of this township, coming from Middle Ridge and Hominy Ridge, make their way to the Buffalo, which occupie- the Middle Valley, and conveys their united waters into Oliver township. Those, however, that rise on the southern slope of Middle Ridge,
' By Silas Wright.
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low down into the Little Buffalo, which enters the Jumiata at Newport.1
At the Jaunary court of 1793 "Two peti- tions, signed by a great number of the in- habitants of Rye township, setting forth that they labored under many and great disadvan- tages by reason of the great extent of said town- -hip, and praying the court that the said town- ship may be divided by a line along the top of Mahanoy Mountain from the line of Tyroue township to the Juniata River," being read in open court, rule that the prayer of the petition- ers be granted, and that the upper part or divi- sion be henceforth called Juniata township.
MILLS IN 1795.
John Black, 360 acres ; Heury Bull, grist and saw- mill and 400 acres ; George Dixon, saw-mill ; George Drabaugh, saw-mill ; David English, saw-mill; Dan- iel Fahnestock, grist and saw-mill and 182 acres ; Heury Fleury, saw-mill; George Hildebrand, two distilleries; Amos Jordan, tan-yard; Jahn Jones, Macksmith and saw-mill; Joseph Jones, tan-yard ; Peter Koch, saw-mill ; William Kerr, saw-mill ; Caspar and Jacob Lupfer, saw-mill ; John Milligan, saw-mill ; Samuel Robinson, saw-mill.
LAND-OWNERS IN 1788 .- Job Stretch lived on the Samnel Tressler farm, and paid 3s. 11d. State, and Is. county tax.
Robert Garrett owned the fract on Big Bnf- ialo, below Milford, now owned by George Campbell and B. F. Miller.
James Keenan owned the farm on Middle Ridge, near the old Middle Ridge Presbyterian Church, and kept a little sture for dry-goods and tobacco.
Alexander Stuart owned the W. E. Stephens farm, and paid as State tax 88. 3d., and as county tax, 2s. This farm was subsequently uwned by James Stephens, the unele of Gover- nor Alexander HI., of Georgia.
At the west end of the township, and in Sa- ville township, are tracts of land, one of three hundred and twenty-nine acres, patented to John Creigh Angust 5, 1791, who sold to Jacob Mil- ler in 1812.
Jonestown, now Milford, is on land warranted June 17, 1755, to William Parkinson. This tract consisted of one hundred and sixty-one
acres, on which were a saw-mill and pond. Jolm Parkinson owned eleven hundred and ten acres on Raccoon Creek, for which the warrant issned in July, 1762.
Three-fourths of a mile south of Milford, on the road from Carlisle to Sunfury, was a tavern, on the top of Middle Ridge, called " White Ball Tavern," which, in 1812, was kept by Philip Clouser, who owned a large tract of land in that section. This hotel was discontinued abont fifty years ago. Oliver Smith now owns the property. Still sonth, on the north bank of Little Buffalo Creek, John Koch kept the Blue Ball Tavern, which was famous for shooting- matches. At this tavern, in 1812, messengers were monted and ready to carry messages to the army at Niagara. The horn at the foot of Middle Ridge signaled the men at White Ball to be ready, and the dispatches were forwarded at once to Reider's Ferry, where the ferry-boat was in waiting.
ASSESSMENT OF 1820 .- Fred. Anderson, carpenter, 150 acres, and lot in Milford; George Barnett, 400 acres, grist and saw mill; George Brown, potter, 20 arres ; Caspar Bruner, 200 acres ; Geo. Brown, weaver ; Francis Beelen, 547 acres, saw-mill and postmaster; Robert Brown, 150 acres; Philip Bosserman, 100 acres, and store; Peter Brown, house and lot in Vienna ; Christopher Biseline, 36 acres; John Bise- line, 36 acres; John Baker, hatter, 6| acres; Marks Bealor, 250 acres; John Bealor, 112 aeres ; Benjamin Bonsall, Jr., justice, 103 acres, and tan-yard; John Black, Jr., 178 acres ; William Black, 178 acres ; Wil- liam Bull, 358 acres, and 200 acres mountain land ; John Black, Sr .. 731 acres; Henry Bull's heirs, 160 aeres, grist and saw mill; Robert Bull's heirs, 400 acres; John Bower's heirs, 200 acres; Bonsall & Sintzman, 415 acres; Philip Clouser, 91 acres; John Clonser's heirs, 350 acres, and saw-mill ; Jacob Clou- ser's heirs, 100 acres; Michael Clouser, carpenter, 100 acres; Philip Crist, 120 acres; Daniel Crist, weaver, 36 acres ; Elias Carter, shoemaker ; Robert Campbell; 170 acres; Henry Crawl, 200 acres; Joseph Clark, 110 acres ; Edward Clark, 183 acres; John Clark, 136 aeres ; William Carson, 300 acres ; Robert Cochran; Meredith Darlington, 230 acres ; George Dillman, . tailor, 12 acres ; Thomas Dromgold, 100 acres ; Geo. Dixon, mason, 217 acres; Michael Daran, cooper, 16 acres ; John Darlington, 230 acres; Heury Dear- dorf, 60 acres; John Ewalt, 212 acres and distillery ; Abraham Deardorf, wagon-maker, 100 acres ; David English's heirs, 300 acres ; John and David English, 202 acres and saw-mill ; Thomas English, 75 acres . William English, 180 acres; Jacob Eahart, 298 acres;
I Claypole.
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Dr. John Eckhart, 5 lots and house in Vienna ; Ben- jamin Fickes, 120 acres ; Valentine Fickes, 100 acres; Abraham Fleury, 73 acres and distillery ; Thomas Ferguson, schoolmanter ; William Ferguson. weaver; Rossono Fleury, 200 acres ; John Fleury, 110 Heres ; Abraham Fulweiler, 120 acres ; Robert Fitz- gerald 210 acres; Isaac Frantz, carpenter ; George Foulke, house carpenter, 17 acres and 2 lots in Milford; James Freeland, J0 acres; Henry Fritz, mason ; Joseph Fle-bart, saddler; Daniel Fahnestock, 309 acres; Robinson Fitz, hatter ; Alex. Gantt, 400 acres ; Jas. Graham, mason 38 acres; Jos. Gantt, 150 acres and lot in Vienna ; Juo. Garner 1 acres and house in Mil- ford ; Jno. Gantt, 10acres and 2 lots in Milford ; Jas. Humes, weaver, 60acres; James Hant's heirs 150 acres; Henry Hench, cooper, thirty-five aeres; Abraham Hostetter, one hundred and eight acres; John Hollo- peter, eight hundred and fifty acres; John Hench, two hundred and fifty acres; John Hannah, one huu- dred and thirty-six acres; Jolm Jones, one hundred and ninety-seven acres; John James, heirs, two huu- dred and ninety-six acres; Joshua JJones, tanner, for- ty-three acres; Benjamin Jones, saddler, one hundred and sixty acres; Joseph Jones, inn-keeper, three hun- dred and twenty acres, grist and saw-mill and tan- yard; Jeremiah Jordan, chairmaker, sixty-seven acres; John Koch, iun-keeper (at Blue Ball), two hun- dred and thirty-seven acres ; Isaac Kiser, blacksmith, two hundred and sixty-nine acres ; William Kerr, two hundred acres ; Samuel Knisley, carpenter ; Adam Kunkle, tailor, forty-eight acres; Adam Klinepeter, two hundred aeres; John Kiser, two hundred and sixty-nine acres; John Kerr, one hundred acres; Matthew Kerr, shoemaker, one hundred acres; Caspar Immpfer, one hundred aeres and one hundred acres mountain land; Peter Lenish, seventy aeres ; William Linn. one hundred and seventy aeres ; John Leonard, ninety acres ; Philip Leonard and John English, two hundred and twenty-three acres ; Isaac Leonard, six- ty-live acres; Philip Leonard, one hundred and forty- five acres and distillery ; Benj. Lineaweaver, weaver; George Leonard, Jr., weaver; George Leonard, Sr., 130 acres, and 200 acres mountain land; John Leas, 166 acres ; Benjamin and Henry Leas, 486 acres and ferry ; Richard Latchford, 64 acres and 499 acres of mountain laud; John London, 50 acres; Matthew Loudon, 90 acres ; Baltzer Lesh. 349 acres; Charles Lindsey, 170 acres; Jacob Lenich, 68 acres; Francis MeCown, justice of the peace ; Joseph Marshall's heirs, 100 acres; Matthew McBride, blacksmith, 150 acres ; John McBride, 162 acres; Gideon Miller, werver, Baeres ; Jeremiah Madden, 64 acres ; Robt. and Thos. Marlin, 80 aeres ; Rob't Mitchell, 106 acres; Jno. Murray, It acres ; Catharine Miller, 17 acres ; Etyob MeKochan, shoemaker ; Jos. Mc Naughton, 57 acres ; Jos. Marlin, 107 acres; M. Marshall, 235 acres ; Jane Martin, widow, IG acres; Wm. Marlin, 30 acres; Jno. MeCracken, cooper, 20 acres ; Jacob Miller, tan yard, 150 acres; John MeGonegal, cordwainer, 20 acres ;
Luke MeDowell, 83 acres; Derrick Miller, black. smith ; John Miller, millwright, one hundred acres; George Monroe, Esq., justice of the peace, two hun. dred acres ; John Mateer, Jour hundred and forty. eight acres ; James Maxwell. shoemaker; David Meredith, blacksmith ; Daniel MeKinsey, eighty acres, and five hundred acres mountain land and dis. tillery ; James and William Mitchell, one hundred and thirty-four acres ; Benjamin Meredith, carpenter, house and lot in Milford; Philip Myers, one hundred and lifty acres; John Morrison, millwright, eighty acres; Alexander McCracken, mason; John Me. Gary, two hundred aeres ; Jesse Miller, sixty-five acres ; George North, ninety-six acres; Frederick Nipple, one hundred acres ; Jacob Nailor, miller, ou Philip Clouser's place ; Edward O'Donnell, two hun. dred acres ; Rinehart Orwan, blacksmith, one hun- dred and seventy acres ; Daniel Okeson, house and lot and store in Milford; Joseph Power, inn-keeper, two hundred acres; James Power, three hnudred and fifty acres ; William Patton, three hundred and ninety acres and three lots in Milford; Wil. liam Power, 5 lots of land, containing 582 acres and grist and saw-mill; Henry Pickard, 89 acres; James Pollock, 115 acres; William Reed, 150 acres ; Paul Reider (cooper), 80 acres; Daniel Rider, 60 acres; George Reamer, 219 acres; Michael Robinson, 100 acres; Abraham Rider (inn-keeper), 175 acres and terry; Samuel Ramsey, 821 acres; John Ratlin. berger ( blacksmith) ; Conrad Roads, 50 acres ; Heury Roads, 50 acres; James Robison, 170 acres; J.our and George Robison, 90 acres ; George Robi-on, 219 acres ; John Rider (carpenter), 68 acres; Dr. William Richards; John Shuman's heirs, 300 acres; Peter Smith, 150 acres ; Wendel Smith, 123 acres and 109 acres of mountain land ; David Smith (blacksmith), 40 acres ; Daniel Smith, 150 acres and 177 acres of mountain land (shoemaker): Adam Shuman (millwright), 12 acres; l'eter Stengle (shoemaker), saw-mill and 300 acres ; John Saylor, 250 acres; Anthony Shatto's heirs, 200 acre ; James Smith (carpenter), Adam Stutzman, 150 acte ; Johu Swartz, 314 acres ; James Stephens, 300 acres ; Valentine Smith, 189 acres ; Joseph Smith (cooper), 136 acres; Jacob Sole, 100 acres (sold to Samuel Utter), and lot in Vienna ; Andrew Sunday, 100 acres; Joseph Spriggle, 60 acres ; John Smith (miller), Is acres, grist and saw-mill; John Sunday ( weaver); Thomas Shorter (miller) ; Michael Smith, 57 acres; Abraham Trimmer, 210 acres; Joseph Tate (shoe- maker), 75 acres ; Matthew Thompson (cooper), lot in Vienna ; Tunis Trimmer, 118 acres ; Isaac Thompson (weaver), 300 acres ; Henry Troup, 255 acres ; Sammel Utter, 100 acres, bought of Jacob Sole; Andrew Van Comp, 155 acres ; James Van Comp (inn-keeper), 60 acres ; John Vincent, 300 acres and distillery; Nicholas Werts (weaver), 127 acres ; George Wise- man, Sr., 10 acres and 200 geres mountain land; George Worley, 137 acres ; Jacob Wentz, 130 acres ;
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PERRY COUNTY.
Mevander Watson (inn-keeper), 35 acres ; George Weise, 217 acres; Joseph Wilson's heirs, 75 acres; Ihm Yorum, 300 acres ; Joseph Zinn, 630 acres and ad -- mill ; Elizabeth Ziegler, 50 acres.
It will be remembered that at the time this Assessment was taken Juniata embraced also the townships of Tuscarora, Oliver, and parts of Miller and Centre.
INENBITANTS OF DISTINCTION .- Alexander Stephens, an Englishman, was a soldier under Braddock, and came to what is now Perry County about 1766, near James Baskins, who lived on Baskins' Island and had a ferry there many years. He married James Baskins' dangh- ter Catherine. Baskins refused to recognize the marriage, and they settled about five miles up the river. Stephens was a captain in the Rev- olution and served till the war was over, when he settled near Duncannon, where Andrew B. Stephens, the father of Alexander HI. Stephens, of Georgia, was born, in 1783. In the year 1795 Andrew B. Stephens, with his family, moved to Georgia, where he settled and died. Jaunes Stephens, a brother of Andrew, returned to Perry County and settled in Juniata town- -hip, where in 1820 he owned three hundred aeres.
In 1836 Alexander II. Stephens came to this county to visit his relatives. Ile came to New- port by canal-boat and stopped at the hotel kept by James Black, whom, in 1842, he met in Congress.
Robert Brown came from England about the year 1740, aud settled in Chester County, and from thence removed to the place owned by Robert Mitchell's heirs, above Newport, in 1760. lle also took up the tract adjoining on Big Buf- falo Creek, which was surveyed in pursuance of a warrant dated April 6, 1763. Part of this property was taken up by location, but whether before or after the warrant was issued is not of record.
Robert Brown was the father of eight chil- dren, viz. : Martha, who married David Mitchell, the father of Robert and one of the first commissioners, and Win. B. Mitchell, the first prothonotary ; Roger; John, who went to Kentucky ; Matthew ; Mary, who married~ lately and went to the French Creek settle
ment; Elizabeth, who married -- Boggs and was maternal grandmother to Mrs. Mary Black, late of New Bloomfield ; Margaret, who married J. Guthrie and was grandmother of the late Rob ert Guthrie, of Bloomfield ; Grace married to Henry Bull, who was the mother of Colonel Robert Bull, killed at Chippewa. Robert Brown had two sisters who came from England with him. One married Meredith Darlington and was the mother of the Darlington family in this county. The other married Francis Me- Cown, and was grandmother of the late Fin- law MeCown.
One of Matthew Brown's daughters married Harris, of Harrisburg, and used to visit her friends in this county more than sixty years ago.
At this time of the settlement of Robert Brown's estate David Mitchell took the river property, and Roger Brown the place on Buf- falo Creek. Roger Brown married Tabitha Morrison in 1767, and had six children as fol- lows: Robert ; William, who died unmarried ; Francis, who shouldered his rifle and started for Kentneky, and was never afterwards heard of ; Ellen, who never married ; Martha, who mar- ried William Wallis, who served through the Revolutionary War and received for pay a cer- tifieate of service which he traded for a set of blacksmith tools (he lived and died on the place now owned by Jacob Kepner) ; Elizabeth, mar- ried Anthony Brandt, the father of the late Chas. C. Brandt, of Greenwood township.
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