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 36
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 36
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 36
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 36
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 36
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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
On Juniata River opposite Millerstown and above the mouth of Raccoon Creek, Robert Larimer hell two hundred and nineteen acres in pursuance of a warrant dated Angust 1, 1766. North above Lewis Gronow held fifty-three acres on a warrant issned on the 28th of Feb- ruary, 1775 ; still north Thomas Craig had two Indred and fourteen acres, for which a war- rant was issued on the 17th of January, 1794.
Up the valley of Raccoon Creek on the north side and extending to the Tuscarora Mountains and west of the above tracts, James Black had two hundred and fifty-one acres, warranted March 23, 1763 ; John Black, Jr., had three hundred and sixty-six aeres, warranted March 22, 1790. John Black's two tracts, one of two lumdred and five aeres, warranted March 23, 1763, and the other located on order of August 16, 1766. On these tracts Jonathan Black and James G. Kreamer now live, and the tannery built by Samuel Black and run by him and his son Jonathan was located.
Robert Cochran held two hundred and twelve acres on order dated October 28, 1767, and Samuel Atlee two hundred acres on order of the same date, for ninety acres of which a war- rant was issued in 1784.
The property now owned by William L. Donnally was warranted March 13, 1763, to Henry Bull, and the grist-mill was built by him and sold to Michael Donnally, Esq., about fifty years ago. The properties now owned by Mrs. William Fosselman and B. II. Inhoff were war- ranted to William Bull August 18, 1767. Wil- liam Bull sold this property to William Rice.
The properties owned by S. S. Fry, Mrs. Jane Linn and the heirs of John Fosselman were warranted to Janet Brown on the 18th of May 1763. Part of this tract has been in the Linn name about ninety years.
The properties owned by the heirs of Abram Fry, and part of the Jacob Yohn estate were warranted to Robert Mccrary on application No. 2317 of January 9, 1767.
The Joseph Lesh and part of Jacob Yohn es- tate was warranted to George Robinson on ap- plication No. 2535, dated the 23d of January 1763.
This George Robinson was great-grandfather of George D. Robinson of Raccoon Valley. The Lesh part of this warrant was sold to D. Lesh in October, 1867, having previously been in the Robinson name one hundred and four years.
The valley portions of the following proper- ties were the respective Loudon tracts: Sam- uel Crum, the heirs of George Hench, And. Brandt and D. MeKerr were warranted on ap-
1 Claypole.
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plications Nos. 2536 and 2537 of January 23, 1767, containing two hundred and sixty-six acres to James Loudon, and the properties now owned by William Kerr, Irvin Kerr, Alexan- der Kerr and William Trostel, containing three hundred and seventy-two acres, were warranted to Matthew London November 16, 1768, and the properties owned by (. W. Kar, E. Korr, Henry Horman and George Gutshall, contain- ing two hundred and ninety-six acres, were warranted to Archibald London on the 16th of October 17844. The next tract west was sur- veved to A. Thomas White.
In the rear of the William L. Donally place, toward the Tuscarora Mountains, John Murray took up one hundred and thirty acres on order of September 8, 1766.
In Buckwheat Valley, the property now owned by William A. Miller, was warranted to Cornelius Ryan on the 4th of August, 1792, and the Joseph and David Leonard places were warranted to their grandfather, George Leon- ard, on the 3d of February, 1782. The Joseph and James Baker properties were war- ranted to Edward O. Donnally, the father of Michael Donnally, on the 5th of Angust, 1782.
The Charles Whitekettle, Daniel Crist, A. Sweger and John Hutchinson properties were warranted to John Miller on the 6th of August, 1794. The properties of the heirs of James Campbell and Hugh Campbell are marked claim of Robert Campbell, 1767. This is probably the Robert Campbell referred to in the Pennsylvania Gazette letter of July 12, 1763, at which six men in the house at dinner were attacked by the Indians and all killed but George Dodds, and the house burned, on the 5th of July, 1763.
The land belonging to the Devor tract, in the valley, was warranted to John and Matthew Louden, on application No. 2336 of January 23, 1767, and contained two hundred and ten aeres, and the ridge land, containing one thous- and aeres, was warranted severally to Peter Jones, Philip Jones and William White in 1791. The grist-mill on the Devor tract, now owned by George D. Robinson, was built by Colonel John MeKinzie in 1839 and 1810. MeKinzie bought these tracts from the Lon-
dons in 1807, and Devors bought from Me- Kinzie in 1845.
On Sugar Run William Brown received a warrant for four hundred and sixteen acres of land, part of which was sold to Henry Super, and afterwards sold to Rev. John B. Strain.
The Archibald Loudon here mentioned, was doubtless the author of the narrative hereafter given, and the son of James Loudon, who was assessed in 1767 for one hundred acres of land, and the brother of Matthew, who lived and died on the David MeKerr place, where the Marsh Run post-office is kept by Mrs. John Grubb.
The following from " Loudon's Narrative" is of interest :
" The editor of this work remembers well when he was a boy that shortly after what was called the second Indian War, I think in the year 1765, then living in Raccoon Valley near the foot of Tuscarora Mountain. On Saturday we had a report that the Indians had begun to murder the white people and on Sunday in the forenoon as we children were out- side of the house we espied three Indians coming across the meadow a few rods from us; we ran into the house and informed our parents who were con- siderably alarmed at their approach; the Indians, however, set their guns down outside of the house and came in when they were invited to take seats, which they did; after taking dinner they sat a con- siderable time, Logan could speak tolerable English, the other two spoke nothing while there but Indian, or something that we could not understand. They appeared to be making observations on the large wooden chimney, looking up it and laughing, this we supposed to be from a man on the Juniata not far distant making his escape up the chimney when their house was attacked by the Indians. One of my sisters, a child three or four years old, having very white curly hair; they took hold of her hair between their fingers and thumb stretching it up and laughing ; this we conjectured they were saying would make a nice scalp, or that they had seen such ; otherwise they behaved with civility. After some time when we saw they had no hostile intentions, I took a Bible and read two or three chapters in the Book of Judges, respecting Samson and the Philis- tines. Logan paid great attention to what I read. My father upon observing this, took occasion to men- tion to him what a great benefit it would be to the Indians to learn to read. O, said logan, a great many people (meaning the Indians) on the Mohawk River, can read the Buch that speaks of God." After remaining with us about two hours, they took their departure and crossed the Tuscarora Mountain to
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Captain Patterson's, two miles below where Mifflin- town now stands. In a few days after, we were in- formed it was Captain John Logan, an Indian Chiet. Hle was a remarkable tall man, considerably above six feet high, strong and well-proportioned, of a brave, open, manly countenance, as straight as an arrow, and to appearance, would not be afraid to meet any man."
The George Robinson, who took up the land of the Lesh and Yohn properties, was a brother of William and Thomas Robinson, who were killed by the Indians in 1763. The father of these Robinsons was of Scotch-Irish descent, and had seven sons, whose names were George, William, Andrew, James, Robert, Thomas and John. George, the oldest, had his house burned by the Indians. He enlisted and served several years in the Continental Army. He enlisted in 1777 under Colonel Chambers.
The William Bull who warranted the prop- erties of Mrs. Fosselman and B. H. Inhoff, came first from England and located in Chester County. He had three sous, of whom one, William, was in the field in Raccoon Valley, with his father, planting corn, when they were surprised and captured by the Indians. They remained in captivity about a year. William, the son, married Sarah Darlington and had children-Richard, Mary, Elizabeth, Grace, John, Sallie, Jemima, Anna and Rebecca D.
Grace married Samuel Willis, and was the mother of James and Robert. John married Jane Lin, and lived and died in Raccoon Val- ley. Sallie married Francis Jordan and settled at Mexico, Juniata County. Rebecca D. mar- ried William Neilson, and was the mother of Mrs. Ellen K. Siebert.
John and Abigail Black, the parents of the Blacks of Perry County, lived on a farm, after coming to the county, in Saville township, known then as the " MeCurlen Farm." John Black came from Ireland prior to 1750. The following were the children of John and Abi- gail : James, John, George, William, Samuel, Jonathan, Rachel, Abigail and Rebecca. James married Miss Robinson, and lived and died in Raccoon Valley. John, the father of Judge Black, married another Miss Robinson, and lived and died in the valley. George's first wife was Margaret, daughter of Anthony and
Eleanor. They were married on the 16th of April, 1781, and had four children-Anthony, John, Mary and Eleanor. Ilis second wife was Jane, daughter of George and Susannah MeMil- len. They had Jonathan, George, Jolm, Thomas, Samuel, Margaret, Nancy, Susumah, James and William.
William moved to Tennessee ; no record. Sammel went with him and was shot by the Indians. Jonathan went with them ; no record. Rachel married Thomas Stephenson and moved to Kentucky, and from thence to Ohio, where she died. Abigail married a Mr. Shaw, and lived and died in Ohio. Rebecca married a Mr. Robinson in Ohio, where she died. The mill owned by Henry Bull, Colonel Robert's father, was the one first built in Raccoon Valley, on the site of what has long since been known as Donnally's Mills, now a vil- lage of seventeen dwelling-houses, two stores, two churches (Methodist Episcopal and Evan- gelical Churches), one blacksmith-shop, one wagon-maker-shop, one cooper-shop and the Donnally's Mills post-office, kept by T. S. Veltman, postmaster. During the early part of the year 1814 Governor Simon Snyder issued a call for fourteen thousand militia to assist in repelling the British invasion of the Can- ada frontier. The Eleventh Regiment was composed of volunteers from Cumberland, York and Adams Counties. About half were from Cumberland County. These were com- manded by General Robert Porter, and led by Colonel James Fenton, Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Bull, Majors Galloway and Marlin. These troops rendezvoused at Carlisle, and marched from thenee to " Black Rock Fort," now the site of the city of Buffalo, N. Y. On the 2d of July General Brown issued an order to embark the troops next morning at daylight.
The result of the subsequent action until the Ith of July, is told in " Fort Erie surrendered and the troops ate their Fourth of July dinner in the fort." In the afternoon of the 5th of July, a requisition was made for volunteers to drive off the Indians, who had been annoying the pickets by firing upon them from their places of concealment. About three hundred men, of whom some were officers, who ex-
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.lemged their swords for muskets, stepped for- ward and their ranks were increased by several hundred friendly Indians. General Porter or- dand the white men of this expedition to go with their heads uncovered. The Indians tied np their heads with muslin, blackened their fares before starting by rubbing their hands over burnt stumps. In less than half an hour from the time of starting this party were fight- ing the battle of Chippewa, and during the progress of the battle Colonel Bull, Major tialloway and Captain White, the author of White's Narrative, and a number of private soldiers were surrounded by Indians, who being concealed in the high grass, had permitted the main body of the troops to pass, that they might the more certainly secure the officers. Having first disarmed their prisoners, they next began stripping them of their clothing. Major Gallo- way and private Wendt were deprived of their boots and compelled to march through thorn and other stubble until Wendt afterwards said, " their feet were run through and through."
The prisoners were marched but a short dis- tauce nutil they were halted by a dissatisfied Indian. They started again and had not gone more than a half-mile, when the dissatisfied In- dian then in the rear whooped fiendishly, raised his rifle and shot Colonel Bull, the ball entered the left shoulder and came ont through the right breast. After he was shot, Colonel Bull raised himself on his elbow and reaching out his hand, said, " Help me, Wendt, I am shot." The dy- ing man's agonies were ended by the Indian, who had shot him coming up and sinking his tomahawk into his head and scalping him.
This barbarous act was in compliance with the order of General Riall, which was " Do not spare any who wear the uniform of Militia Of- fieers." All officers regularly uniformed were to be brought into camp and held as prisoners.
Colonel Bull was about thirty-five years old when he was killed. He bears the record of having been a very exemplary Christian man, ministering to the wants of the sick in the eimp, when not on duty.
Bull's Hill graveyard has been a burying- place for more than one Indred years.
The first grave in this yard was that of a man
who, in crossing the Tuscarora Mountain, north of the grave-yard, in the Indian path, was frozen to death.
Some of the graves are covered over with stones, which was done to keep the wolves from digging up and devouring the corpses.
The oldest tombstone in the yard bears date of 1783, and was created to Matthew London, father of the author of the narrative.
Senoor-Horses .- The " Bull School-house," which was originally a carpenter-shop, stood on the green spot in front of No. 5, between the public road and the mill-pond.
Another was on the Dewees property, on the north side of the road leading to Ickesburg, and near John Yolm's tenant house
The " Narrows School-house," situated on the road leading from Raccoon Valley to Buck- wheat Valley, was built as early as 1780, three houses were burned on this site, owing to de- fective wooden-chimneys.
Another old house was situated near Daniel Crist, in Buckwheat Valley, and was known as the "Oakland School-house."
PEACE UNION .- An eccentric enthusiast known as Andrew J. Smolnicker, purchased at sheriff's sale three hundred or four hundred aeres of land as the property of one Eldredge, of Baltimore, on which, near the top of the mountain in 1853 and 1854, Smolnicker erected a frame building, forty by twenty, which was used as a church and a residence of the founder of the new sect.
In a work written and published about this time by Smolnicker, was set forth the creed of his belief.
It was proposed to build the church for this people on the top of the mountain in order that the ascent might be made by steps.
James H. Devor, Esq., came from Shippens- burg Cumberland County, to Perry County in 1845. He was known as the " Blacksmith lawyer," and practiced his profession upward of twenty years. He also had a surveyor's com- pass and practiced land surveying.
WARD'S MUA .- This mill was advertised for sale by Dr. Samuel Mealy in 1830. It is now owned by Mrs. Fiana Ward.
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JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
CHAPTER XXL. LIVERPOOL TOWNSHIP .!
Laverroot township occupies the northeast- ern corner of Perry County and contains about twenty-four square miles of area.
" The eastern end of Perry Valley makes up the greater part of the township drained by Borgers run, whose head waters lie on the watershed, parting it from the basins of Cocolamus Creek and Hunter's run. The point of Pfoutz's Valley enters from Green- wood and forms the northern part of the township."
Liverpool township was formed from Green- wood in 1823, and is bounded on the north by part of Greenwood and Susquehanna townships in Juniata County; on the east by the west shore, at low water mark, of the So-quehanna River; on the south by Buffalo township, and on the west by Greenwood.
On the first Monday of December, 1822, a petition was presented to the Court of Perry County by certain citizens setting forth that the township was so extensive in its boundaries that it is inconvenient for the inhabitants thereof to atttend to the township business," and asking the Court to appoint viewers to report upon the erection of a new township. Meredith Dar- lington, George Monroe, Esq., and George Elliott were appointed. The viewers were con- tinned on the 3d of February, 1823. No other mention is found in the records until the 5th of September, 1823, when David Dechert (now Deckard) was appointed constable of Liverpool township, gave bond and was sworn in. Its boundaries were the same as at the present time. It was the first township erected after Perry be- caune a separate county. The name was re- ceived from the " Town of Liverpool," which had been laid out fifteen years before this time.
On the Susquehanna River at the end of Buffalo Mountain, adjoining Berry's Run, John Pfontz took up one hundred and forty-two acres under warrant dated the 3d of March, 1755. This tract was a long, narrow strip be- low the borough, reaching up to Berry's Rum (now Barger's) and the mountain, and Alexan- der MeKee ou the south.
1 By Prof. Silas Wright.
Alexander McKee had two tracts, of two hundred acres and ninety acres,' respectively. The last tract was along the river, with high hills on the south. These tracts were warranted September 5th and 20th, 1762. John and Ja- cob Huggins located north of the site of Liver- pool before November, 1795. John Staily owned the land on which the towns of Liver- pool and Northern Liberties were situated. He sold to John Huggins on the 25th of October, 1808. While on the north, along the river, Anthony Rhoades owned, in 1820, the tract ad- joining Staily, all of which is now within the borough limits. MeKinzie's grist-mill was built by Thomas Gallagher, about 1817. It is now owned by D. MeKinzie. The stream on which this mill and several saw-mills are situated flows into the Susquehanna through the borough of Liverpool, and is not named on the map of Perry County. It might appropriately be called " Barner's Run."
Stores are kept at Dry Saw-Mill, by George W. Barmer, at which feed and provisions are furnished for the boatmen. At Centreville, a village consisting of half a dozen houses and a blacksmith and wagon-maker's shop, a store is kept by Jeremiah Crawford. The Centreville public school-house, a brick building, is in the village. At an early day, just below the village, the Wagner saw-mill, on Barner's Run, did a custom lumber business. About twenty years ago there was a fulling-mill on the same stream near the present residence of William E. Barger.
Until the spring of 1884 a store and post- office, called " Pfoutz Valley," were established at the cross roads where John Holman now lives. Along the road leading towards the Sus- quehanna past this store, the honses are dotted quite close together, on account of the lime-kilns which give employment to a number of men in quarry ing the limestone and burning lime, which is largely used as a fertilizer. About two miles from this store, at another cross-roads, is a school -. house, to which is attached a grave-yard, in- dicating that it was used for religious services. About 1875 a new brick church was built by the Reformed denomination, across the road from the school-house. Along the public-road north of Dry Saw-Mill, along the Susquehanna,
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t
the houses resemble those of a village along a street. In this row, and near the line of Juni- ata County, the Kline Brothers have a steam saw-mill and do quite a lumber business.
CHRIST'S LUTHERAN CHURCH.
On the ground and near to the site of this church was the oldest school-house in the valley, and is still known as the " heu-roost." This house stood in a grove of trees, some of which are still standing. The lot which encloses the grave-yard, which now covers abont an aere of ground, and Christ's Imtheran Church contains about four acres. The location of this church is commanding, and accessible by a public-road leading from Liverpool to Millerstown. It is distant four miles from Liverpool. The buikl- ing is a frame, about forty by fifty feet, and capable of seating two hundred and fifty persons. It was built during the summer of 1844, and dedicated on the 8th of Inne, 1845, but the con- gregation remained nnorganized until the be- ginning of 1847, when the Rev. William Wea- ver took charge of it, and served it for four years. The ministers who succeeded Rev. Wea- ver were the same who served the other congre- gations of the charge with which it was connect- ed, consisting of Liverpool, St. Michael, Innt- er's Valley and others. On account of the field being so large the pastor can only preach here once in two, three, and sometimes in four weeks. The old school-house of this township was the one which stood in the church-yard. Another school-house was near Barner's Church, for, in Rev. Jolm William Heim's journal he says : "On the 17th of December, 1814, in the eve- ning, I preached at Stollenberger's school-house, from Eph. 5: 14." This house evidently was used before the one now in nse at the Reformed Church.
These houses were succeeded by frame build- ings, which cost from one hundred and fifty dol- lars to three hundred dollars each, which are being replaced by brick houses, mostly furnished with patent furniture, at a cost of from eight hundred dollars to one thousand dollars cach.
Of the old teachers, residents of the township, were Abner Knight, John Buchanan, George Grubb and John C. Lindsay. The last-named
was elected and served a term as prothonotary of the county.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
DAVID STEWART.
David Stewart is the son of James Stewart, who was of Scotch descent, and early resided in Lancaster County, Pa., from whence he re- moved to Dauphin County and finally to Cum- berland (now Perry) County, settling in Buf- falo township. He at a later period . became a resident of Liverpool, having previously married Miss Silknitter, of Churchtown, Lan- caster County.
The children of this marriage were John, David, Charles, Samuel, Daniel, Jonathan, Sarah (Mrs. Andrew Shuiman), Catherine (Mrs. Solomon Kirchner), Eliza (Mrs. John Whitmer) and Mary (Mrs. John Nafe).
David Stewart was born in Lancaster County on the 12th of December, 1793, and died July 22, 1864. ITis boyhood was spent in Lancaster and Dauphin Counties, where his opportunities for education were limited. His mind was trained, however, to habits of reflection and well informed by careful and judicious reading. On attaining the years of manhood he removed to Perry County, and was for awhile engaged in farm labor, after which he managed a dis- tillery and saw-mill, both owned by his father. He finally purchased a farm in Liverpool town- ship and became interested in the varied pur- suits of an agriculturalist.
Mr. Stewart married, in August, 1825, Ann Catherine Shuman, born September 25, 1805, who died March 4, 1817. Their children are Andrew Jackson, born Feb- ruary 8, 1830, who died May 10, 1836; George W., July 11, 1832; Jeremiah S., Jime 27, 1836, who died October 29, 1867 ; Thomas Jefferson, January 28, 1839, who died February 12, 1811 ; Mary Ann (Mrs. Joel W. Witmer), April 2, 1811, who died March 12, 1881; Cordelia Jane, March 23, 1844, who died March 18, 1850.
Mr. Stewart was a man of enterprise and
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JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
publie spirit, and active in all matters pertain- ing to the township. In politics a Democrat, he was often a delegate to County and State Couventious, held the office of county commis- sioner and various township positions. Ile was, in 1819, elected to the State Legislature, and again in 1850 and 1851. He gave special attention to matters pertaining to agriculture, was opposed to all monopolies and gave his influence and support to measures having for
He gave his attention to the home farm, and on the death of his father inherited a portion and purchased the remainder of the property. He was, in March, 1872, married to Mary .1. Whitmer, daughter of Henry Barner, of Liver- pool township. A Democrat in politics, he is interested in the success of his party, but is not a politician. He worships with the German Reformed Church, of which Mrs. Stewart is a member.
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Facol Barnes
their object the good of the community. He was JACOB BARNER. a member of both State and County Agricultural Jacob Barner is the son of George Barner, who was born May 25, 1780, and died May 9, 1863, in his eighty-third year. He married Mary, daughter of Henry and Amelia Dubbs, whose birth occurred April 13, 1781, and her death March 5, 1861, in her eightieth year. Their son Jacob was born in Liverpool town- ship, Perry County, near Baruer's Church, on the 27th of April, 1812, and died April 19, Societies, frequently selected to fill the offices of guardian, trustee and administrator and greatly respected for his intelligence, rectitude and practical good sense. He was a supporter of religion, though not a member of any denomi- nation. His son, George W. Stewart, a rei- dent of the borough of Liverpool, was reared in the township of that name and educated at. the public school and the Tuscarora Academy. 1880, in his sixty-eighth year. In youth he at-
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