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. 2 > Part 12
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. 2 > Part 12
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. 2 > Part 12
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. 2 > Part 12
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. 2 > Part 12
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the month of Turtle Creck was found to be of superior quality, and its development was com- menced by Napoleon Hughes above the site of the furnace, a few Imudred yards above the river- bank.
There was no attempt at building a furnace. In 1818 John N. Youngman and Jesse M. Walters went into partnership as merchants, and April 1, 1851, as partners, bought the land of Nicholas Mensch. By sundry conveyances it finally became vested in the Union Furnace Company.
THE UNION FURNACE was erected on those premises in 1853 and 1854 by a company under the firm-name of Beaver, Geddes, Marsh & Co., which consisted of Sammel Geddes, Jaines S. Marsh, Thomas Benver, Peter Beaver, Charles E. Morris and Dr. L. Rooke. A few years after, Peter Beaver, James S. Marsh and Dr. Rooke bought ont all the other partners and changed the name to Beaver, Marsh & Co. Under this name the business has been con- timed until the present time (Jannary, 1886). This furnace, of a weekly capacity of one hun- dred and twenty-five tons, was built to use anthracite coal, and has continued this fuel ever since.
The iron-ores used for the first twenty years were obtained almost entirely from the fossil veins in Shamokin Ridge, near by; but since the cheap and easily accessible ores of this range became exhausted, they seeured ore-mines on the Juniata River, at Millerstown, Perry Con- ty, which have proved valable, owing to the cheap water transportation ; also from Shade Mountain, near Adamsburg, in Snyder Coun- ty, Pa. The hard iron-ores (which are in inexhaustible quantities) are still mined near the furnace. The flux or limestone is obtained from the well-known Dry Valley lime quarries, which are connected with the furnace by rail; the furnace is connected with the Sun- bury, Shamokin and Lewisburgh Railroad. This furnace was first blown in in 1854, and has continued in blast, except when undergoing repairs, np to the present time. During this time it has been superintended, managed and blown by Dr. Rooke, assisted by George M. Slifer. The books were kept twenty-two years
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by John K. Kremer, present cashier of the Union National Bank, and the balance of the time by B. C. Ammous, who has been employed in some capacity ever since the works were built. There are still quite a large number of men there who have been continually employed ever since they started. The iron produced has always been considered first-class for four- dry and forge purposes, and it is thought that their success in keeping in blast and selling their product, when the great majority of fur- naces had to go out of blast, was owing to the great uniformity and reliability of their iron.
To the credit of the firm it can be said, while they employ many more men than are employed at other furnaces of the same capacity, as they mine all their own ores, limestone and for years their own coal, they never had a strike or lock-out. The furnace property consists of a furnace, forge, mansion-house, twenty-five tenant-houses, three large farms, grist-mill, store, stable, etc., containing altogether over six hundred acres.
Dr. Rooke, the principal manager, was born in Chester County, Pa., on the 22d of July, 1826, a son of James and Mary (Murray) Rooke, both English descent, and prosperous farmers.
He attended the schools of the neighborhoods, and a grammar at Unionville, presided over by Jonathan Gause ; taught school two years, and commeneed the study of medicine with Dr. Stephen MI. Meredith, of Pughtown, and after the nsnal course graduated at the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, in the spring of 1848, and for three years practiced his profession at St. Mary's, in the northern part of the county. In the fall of 1850 he engaged a company and started up the old Berlin Iron-Works, on Penn's Creek, in Hartley township, and continued making iron there until the spring of 1851. Ile then helped to complete the furnace at Win- field, and continued manager and superintendent ever since. He also organized a company, and made iron several years at the Beaver Furn- ace, in Snyder County. He has the credit of being the first to thoroughly organize the manufacture of iron in Union County. There had been many trials of it even so early as 1824,
but they met with continued disaster ; but Dr. Booke, though a period of thirty-four years, through many a storm, has been able to carry on the business with success. He has always been popular with his employees; and many of them are there to this day, in con- timued employment since he commenced, and the majority of them over twenty years. He is one of the first, if not the only iron-master, who undertook the immediate control and blowing of his own furnace. He has not therefore re- strained his activities to his personal ends, but has been an active politician; originally a Whig, opposed to slavery and its extension, he has stood by his party, the Republican, with an active helping hand. He was a member of the Con- stitutional Convention of 18744, and carried his energies and experience into the committees on suffrages and elections and railroads. He has been manager and director of several bank- ing institutions, and particularly of the Union National Bank, whose burden fell on him in its disaster, and but for him would not have sur- vived. He became also a director in the Sha- mokin, Sunbury and Lewisburgh Railroad, a road so essential to the interest of the county, and it was owing, in good part, to his personal exertions that it was organized and constructed. With good health all his life, happy in his domestic life, with that prosperity that comes from an industrious, well-ordered and energetic life, withal he has not let himself become one- sided, and having a fine flow of conversational power, he is one with whom it is a pleasure to icet. Ile was married twice,-first, to Miss E. IT. Church, of Churchtown, Lancaster County, by whom there were four children, and then, on Angust 31, 1882, to Miss Annie E. Creamer. " To their good sense and economy," he says, " I attribute much of my snecess in life."
THOMAS BEAVER .- It is over a pleasant task to chronicle an active and useful life, and such an one assuredly has been that of the subject of this sktech.
Born November 16, 1814, in Pfoutz's Valley, (now) Perry County, Pa., sou of Rev. Peter and Elizabeth (Gilbert ) Beaver.
Rev. Peter Beaver was ordained in 1809, at Elkton, Md., by Bishop Asbury, of the
The Heaven
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Methodist Episcopal Church, and was active in the ministry many years. He possessed and made occasional use of an unusual ability, viz. : preaching alternate sentences in German and English the better to reach his mixed andiences. An earnest pastor, he was largely instrumental in building np churches and in various other kindred work. Mrs. Beaver died February, fois, her husband surviving her until August, 1819. Their children were as follows : George, who married Catharine Long; Samuel, who married Maria Leman ; Jacob, who married Ann Eliza Addams (one of whose children is a favorite son of Pennsylvania, General James Addams Beaver, of Centre County, a gallant soldier and Christian gentleman) ; Jesse, who married Mary Ann Schwartz; Thomas, whose mame heads our article; Peter, who married Eliza G. Simonton ; Sarah, who married Aaron Nevius; Eliza ; Catharine, who married Archi- bald Greenlee ; and Mary, who married Henry Miller, now of Lewisburgh.
The educational advantages obtained by Thomas Beaver were of rather meagre character. Hle never attended school after his twelfth year, but as he possessed an indomitable will and an inuate intellectual force, his after-successes were none the less positive because of the lack of scholastic education in carly youth.
In April, 1827, he left the parental roof in search of his fortune, and for a number of months worked on a farm at two and one-half dollars per month, and in the winter of that year entered the store of Beaver & Black (his brother Samuel and Judge Black), at Milford. The following spring the business was removed to Newport, Perry County, and there he con- tinued one year. His father having in the mean time opened a store at New Berlin, Union County, Thomas put in a year's work there and then returned to Newport to take charge of the business of Judge Black, who was a promi- nout politician and spent much of his time out- side. Close application brought its frequent attendant, and illness compelled a climatic change, so, through the friendly aid of General Mitchell, chief of construction of the Pensyl- vania Canal, on November 1, 1831, he went to Williamsport to fill an engagement in the
general store of Rev. Jasper Bennett. His knowledge of goods and force of character were demonstrated at that carly day, he being, when but eighteen years of age, sent to Philadelphia to purchase a stock of goods, making the tedious journey by stage-coach.
The fearful scourge of cholera had been ram- pant in the Quaker City just previous to this trip, but no unpleasant effects resulted to the young business man. In 1833, forming a con- nection with Peter Nevius in general merchan- dising, at Lewisburgh, he went to that place where he remained until 1835, when he sold ont his interest and assumed his brother Samuel's place, at Millerstown, the firm then becoming J. & T. Beaver. Feeling a strong desire to learn of wider fields, particularly the Philadel- phia methods, in February, 1837, he told his brother he would go to that city for such purpose, ete., and carrying out such project in an intelligent manner, wrote to three of the largest firms there for their views and advice. Reed & Son, one of those selected, responded, attempting to dissuade the seeker after knowledge; while Bray & Bareroft wrote they would be glad to meet him and make his stay pleasant. Mr. Bea- ver accordingly went to Philadelphia in March, 1837, and made good use of his time learning the details and modes of a metropolitan enter- prise. When, in May, he proposed to return, considering his object accomplished, he was met by Mr. Bareroft with " Thomas, you had better stay where you are ; " and answered " I cannot give up a business worth three or four thousand dollars a year for the sake of living in Phila- delphia." Mr. Barcroft then said, " It does not suit us to make any change in our business until 18-10. At that time we will give you an equal interest with ourselves in the business. Better go home, sell out to your brother and come back to us. We will give you whatever salary you think you ought to have until 1840." Recognizing the value of such a proposition from so strong a house, he acted upon it and re- turned to Philadelphia. The first year he accepted simply expenses, which were seven lamdred and fifty dollars. The second year one thousand dollars, and, as he had married in the mean time, accepted fifteen hundred dollars the
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third year. On January 1, 1810, he was, in accordance with the proposal, taken into part- nership, the firm becoming Bray, Barcroft &. Co. By the retirement of Mr. Bray, in 18.11, the firm was changed to Barcroft, Beaver & Co., and continued to enlarge its circle of trade, reaping au uninterrupted success.
The intense application of over twenty years broke down the health of Mr. Beaver, which had never been of the stoutest, and caused his retirement from this firm in 1858, and, as an opportunity was offered to take hold of the affairs of the Moutour Iron Company, at Danville, Pa., through his firm being one of the largest creditors of that corporation, which went down in the general crash of 1857, he went to that city to wind up the concern. In this work he remained one year as trustee for the creditors, and, finding the business congenial to his tastes and the climate beneficial to his health, he determined to continue, and formed a partner- ship with one of the co-trustees, Mr. Isaac S. Waterman, the new firm purchasing the entire interest of the creditors in the personal effects of the old company in 1859, and in 1860 becoming owners of the real estate also. With the talents which had heretofore wrought great re- sults, the firm of Waterman & Beaver rapidly built up an immense business in the mant- facture of iron and in general merchandising, sucess succeeding surces, until in 1877 Mr. Beaver sold out his interest in the Danville properties to his partuer, retaining his interest in the coal property at Kingston, incorporated as the Kingston Coal Company.
As may be inferred from these bare facts, Mr. Beaver has been the artificer of his own reputation and fortunes. He may properly be characterized as a mau of great administrative ability, quick to think and decide, pushing with energy to completion whatever he undertakes. He has been an intensely busy man nearly all his life, and the comforts of his beautiful home, with its handsome gardens and magnificent conservatories, at Danville, Moutour County, are a meet reward for actions and influence such as these.
The old saying " The boy is father to the man" bears particular meaning applied to Mr.
Beaver, who, when but a young lad, clerking in a store, was in the habit of rising before day- light, and, after lighting the fires and caring for the horse and cattle, studying either one or other works of solid reading-matter. His chain of thought, even in those early days, was for the works which enlarge aud strengthen the mind, his first book being " Rasselas," the second " The Scottish Chiefs," and the third " Rollin's Ancient History." His mind being fully occu- pied, he never songht the solace of the weed, and is to-day unaware of the taste of smoking or chewing tobacco, very much to his benefit and credit be it said. When the subject of a Nat- ional Bank at Danville was mooted, Mr. Beaver took hold of the project and was one of its or- ganizers, and after its start served as president some three or four years, stamping his character epon it.
Altogether this gentleman is essentially a business man and the controlling spirit of large enterprises ; he has nevertheless ever been prompt to recognize and active in aiding meri- torious canses, and he has become a living illus- tration of that noble characteristic so rare among men of influence-the accumulation of riches, not for himself alone, but to make others happy during and after his life. Not to par- ticularize too closely, among his generous gifts to religions and educational causes may be men- tioned thirty thousand dollars to Dickinson College, at Carlisle, Pa., a Methodist Episcopal institution, given at a time when greatly needed to stimulate other large-hearted men; twenty- five thousand dollars to Lafayette College, at Easton, Pa., the Presbyterian seat of learning ; very liberal gifts to the Presbyterian Church at Danville, of which he and his family have been members many years, and we quote a few words from Rev. Dr. W. C. Cattell, ex-president of Lafayette College, on the subject as a proper tribute : " Whenever he has been approached with a meritorious project or want he has always been a most generons benefactor, but so mobtrusively that his left hand scarcely know- what his right hand does. He is truly one of the noblest and best of men. We ought to re- joice and give thanks when God puts wealth into the hands of such men."
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A year ago Mr. Beaver was elected a men- ber of the board of trustees of Dickinson Col- love, although a Presbyterian since 1813. He ha- also been twice appointed member of the State Board of Charities.
During the Rebellion Mr. Beaver upheld the national government firmly, giving both time aud money freely. He has never held office in his life nor has he ever been an office-seeker. Much time has been given to travel for the benefit of his health and the enjoyment of his family, and good use has been made of the privilege, the home being stored with articles of virtu from Japan, Egypt, Europe, cte. In 1851 he made the first journey to England in com- pany with the late Horace Greeley, Judge Dar- ling and others for the First World's Fair, at Crystal Palace, London, sailing on one of Cap- tain Comstock's first American steamers.
Ou Jaunary 23, 1838, Mr. Beaver was united to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Robert B. and Cassandra (Berryhill) Wilkins, of Harrisburg, Pa., who was born April 20, 1817. As a result of' this alliance there were born seven children, two of whom died in infancy, and Emily, born October 4, 1810, married William II. Cham- berlin, of Lewisburgh (since deceased), and bore him Jessie, William, Thomas, John, Eliz- abeth, Mary, Emily and Laura. Arthur, born September 17, 18-12, married Alice Diehl (no is- -ne). Alice, born October 12, 1811, married Wil- liam 11. Brown, of Philadelphia, and has born him Elizabeth, Charles and Thomas (two latter twins). Laura, born January 18, 1846, married Rev. John De Witt, professor of church history in Lane Seminary, Cincinnati (no issue). Eliza- beth Stewart, born February 9, 1853, married Lemnel E. Wells, of New York, and has borne him Thomas, Christian and Lemuel Stewart.
Into this happy home came the fell destroyer Death at an all too early day, calling hence the faithful wife, tender mother and affectionate friend, on December 27, ESS 1.
The high bluff that overlooks the jinetion of the North and West Branches of the Susque- hanna forms the southeastern shoulder of Union County and Union township. It is called " Blue Will," and its fame is not confined. even to this continent.
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The Duke of Rochefonemld Liancourt saw it in 1795, and told of it to fair France, and the English celebrities that settled upon the point op- posite spread its name and the story of its beauty among the counties of the mother-country.
To add to its fame, an eccentric man bought it and built buildings upon it, which added to its attractiveness; one was a large square building, with a flat roof and railing around it, and just over its most precipitous side hung a square tower apparently leaning far over the abyss. The main frame of the building was perpendie- nlar and fastened with long, strong rods far into the rock, rendering it entirely secure. An onter frame-work was covered with weather- boarding that gave the appearance of the in- clination.
This building was the old man's eyrie in his latter days, where he had gathered a rare col- lection of queer old English books-they sold for seventy-five cents the bushel-basketful at his sale-and there be shing his hammock, and when the winds blew the maddest it was his resort.
John Mason's father was a Quaker, living in Philadelphia, an old acquaintance of James Jenkins, Jr., at Turtle Creek, who said to him one day, speaking of his son JJohn, that he was a restless fellow, and wanted to go to sea, and That it would be the death of his mother, "Can't thee take him out with thee?" Jenkins replied that it was a wild place out there, and not likly to suit the taste of one who wanted to go sea-faring. Ile did come up with him into the wilderness, engaged in the mercantile busi- ness, first keeping a store where Elliot now lives, in Northumberland, and afterwards at Turtle Creek. He was a man who never recognized or became intimate with ladies. Oneevening at the Jenkins house, Mason came in as nsnal from the store, abont nine o'clock, and seated himself' by the ample fire-place with a book. There were a number of young people in the room, who were playing pawns and forfeits. One handsome girl was condemned in a whisper to kiss John Mason. Ile was apparently paying no attention, but as she slyly approached within reaching distance he raised the tongs between them, saying " Not one step further." He lived until
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he was very old, and to his last days talked of rebuilding his fanciful houses, and he was buried upon his hill-top. Jenkinsand he went alternately to Philadelphia to buy goods. Mason always walked. One season, in 1798, the darkey ser- vaut rushed into Mrs. Jenkius with bated breath, exclaiming, " Mr. Mason has come on horse-back !" It was true. He had had the yellow fever, and his appearance was such that the darkey thought it his ghost.
Senoons,-In 1803 a German school was taught by a Ilessian in part of a house owned by Samuel Slear (1777), near Wiufield. The first English school, a few years after, was taught by Mr. Cunningham, and soon after one by Mr. Sullivan, both of whom taught in their own houses during the winter months. The first house erected for school purposes was about 1815. Another, a few years after, was built half- way between Winfield and New Berlin, called the Grier school-house. The following is a par- tial list of teachers of that time: Rev. Heury Neible, Sammel Creamer, Hon. James Marshall, Jacob Shear and John Fisher. There were four districts in 1884, with one hundred and sixty-six pupils, as follows: Winfield, Sandal, Trutt's, Eyer's. Union Independent, fifty-four pupils.
THE WINFIELD EVANGELICAL CHURCH .-- A class of this faith having been formed abont 1850, was encouraged a few years later to build a church upon a lot, which had been donated by the proprietors of the furnace, and, after much effort, the house was completed for dedicatiou in 1856. It is a neat brick building, having sit- tings for about four hundred persons, and has heen made comfortable by repairs in late years. The members worshipping here have had the same pastoral service as the charges on the old Union Circuit and New Berlin, with which place the appointment is now connected,
BAPTIST CHURCH AT WINFIELD .- In the early part of 1868 a revival of unusual import- auce took place in the village in consequence of' the labors of Baptist brethren from the Lewis- burgh Church, who had adopted this place as one of their out-stations. Sixty-nine persons were baptized, and these, with six others, con- stituted the above church March 5, 1869. As the mothers purposed building a house of wor-
ship, the Union Furnace Company donated a lot upon which a good brick church, seating four hundred persons, was built in 1873. The congregation is flourishing and its interests are closely associated with the Baptist Church at Lewisburgh.
CHAPTER IX. KELLY TOWNSHIP.
KELLY TOWNSHIP was named after Colonel John Kelly, who, as carly as 1770, lived on the place at which he died.
It is one of the richest agricultural town- ships in the county. Earliest settled by men of more than ordinary character, they have re- tained their standing among the intelligent and the brave.
On the 22d of February, 1769, what is called the Rev. John Ewing survey was made, the first in the valley. It extends from the month of Buffalo Creek, six hundred and seventy-five perches, to a walnut that formerly stood on Dr. Dongal's liue, now heirs of James Moore. Il is starting-point for this survey was sixty or seventy rods above the present site of the iron bridge across Buffalo Creek, and contained eleven hundred and fifty aeres. It is called " Delta " in the warrant, no doubt from its resemblance to the Greek letter J.
In November, 1771, Walter Clark, of Paxton towo- ship, bought the Ewing tract iu trust for himself, Robert Fruit, William Gray, Robert Clark and Wil- liam Clark, all of the same township. They divided it into six tracts, agreed cach to take one-sixth, and sell the remaining tract, which they did to Ludwig Derr, 31st July, 1773. Walter Clark settled on the place now owned by Hon. Eli Slifer, William Gray where Major Paul Geddes now owns, Robert Fruit ou the Heinly place, William Clark on the place now owned by M. H. Taggart, and Robert on what is now Judge Hummel's farm. Walter Clark sold to Joseph Musser in 1802, and moved to Mercer County, where his family became prominent. His son John was a member of the Legislature from that county.
Joseph Musser came from Strasburg, Lan- caster County. When they tore down the okl house, in 1851, they found a date painted on
! By J. Merrill Lin.
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the east end, 1801, which part was built two years after they came to the valley. He had "yen children and their numerous descendants are all around. (1) Jacob lived on the Shorkley farm, as mentioned, having a daughter Mary married to David NNeshit, Margaret to John R. Hotel, and Jaseph ; (2) John lived on the mansion farm, and his children were Robert, Joseph, William, John and J. Wilson ; (3) Joseph went to Wheeling, Va. ; (1) Nancy married William Nechit, Esq., over the river ; (5) Esther ; (6) Mary married Thomas Proctor ; (7) Elizabeth married Washington Dunn.
The heirs of John lived on the old place nutil the spring of 1850, when it was sold to Colonel Eli Slifer, who built handsomely on it.
Captain Gray, afterwards an officer in the Revolution, lived and died on his place. He was ancestor of the Dunlaps, Hayeses, Hutchin- sous, Andsons, Wallaces and W. G. Williams (of Bellefonte). Richard Fruit sold out to Henry Hursh in 1812, and moved to Derry, Northumberland County. Robert and William Clark died on their respective places.
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