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 29
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 29
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 29
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 29
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 29
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now lives ; was a captain of the militia in 107; had four sous,-Matthew, Robert, William and Thomas. Thomas had two sisters born with him,-Sarah and Elizabeth. Sarah married Isaac Smith and moved to Wisconsin : both died on the same day and are buried in the same grave. Elizabeth married Hon. David B. Montgomery, of Northumberland County. Matthew married Eleanor Collins ; afterwards married Nancy Tate, sister of John Tate, Esq., of Gregg. Robert married Susan Fisher. William married Hish Hill. Thomas lives in Ohio. Robert always lived in Gregg, at Allen- wood; kept store; was born December 28, 1803; died May 21, 1881. His sons were John C., George W., Robert, William, Charles, Peter, and one daughter, Victoria. Robert married Annie M. Gudykunst and is now a commissioner of Union County.
Elder John Brown came from Ireland; married the abandoned wife of Samuel Swan ; had three sons ; James and John studied for the ministry ; George prepared for the prac- tice of medicine, and married Margaret Dougal, a daughter of Dr. Dougal, of Milton, who later married John Hunter, Esq.
David Hunter came from County Donegal, Ireland, to Juniata County, and there married Isabella Patterson, who was a daughter of General William Patterson, of Indian war fame. Came to White Deer Valley in 1820, and set- tled at Spring Garden Mills. His children were John, James, David, Margaret, Kath- erine and Isabella. John married Margaret Dougal, widow of Dr. G. W. Brown ; James married Margaret Montgomery ; David mar- ried Maria Satterly, and lives at Watsontown ; Margaret married Alen Marr, of Milton-all dead; Catherine married Thomas Comley, of Milton-both dead ; Isabella married Jacob Derr, of Lewisburgh-both dead.
John's family was W. S. Hunter, married Elizabeth McCormick ; Horatio D., married Sallie Cooner, of Watertown ; Isabella married Rev. J. G. Miles ; Margaret married E. S. Gudykunst, Esq. ; Maria S. married David Watson.
Sammel Oakes came to White Deer Valley in 1785, from Chester County, Pa. Bought
about one thousand acres in the centre of Gregg township. He had six sons and three daughters. Elizabeth Oakes, his daughter, married William Schooley, who came, about the same time, from Schooley's Mountain, N. J. William Schooley owned several hundred acres about a half-mile west of Allenwood. He was a school-teacher and factotum. He had twelve children,-Mary married George Foresman ; Jolin married Nancy Comley ; Elizabeth; Mar- garet married Joseph McCormick ; Samuel mar- ried Elvina Moore; Christiana married James Snoddy, Sr .; William married Isabel Snoddy ; Joseph married Elizabeth Oakes-both dead ; Lucy married Fullmer Donaldson ; Benjamin ; Hannah married Samuel S. Pauline ; Andrew J. married Mollie Silliman.
Martin Shellabarger came, in 1800, from the lower counties, and bought one thousand aeres back of Alvira. One of his sons mar- ried an Oakes, and their son is Hon. David Shellabarger, a prominent lawyer of Washing- ton, D. C. Mr. Shellabarger is now living in the township.
James Snoddy came from County Londonder- ry, Ireland, about 1800, with his wife, whose mai- den-name was Mary Owens ; she was the dangh- ter of a Scotch gentleman. They first settled in Chester County; then lived a few years in Buffalo Valley ; then moved to White Deer, and settled on the farm John H. Schooley now resides upon. They and their ancestors are noted for their longevity, usually reaching from ninety-seven to one hundred and six years. James and Mary had three sons- Samuel, William and James; six daughters- Margaret, Rachel, Mary, Martha, Katherine and Isabella. James married Christiana Schooley ; one of their sons is Colonel W. W. S. Snoddy, a prominent lawyer of Sedalia, Mo. Samuel married Susan Kuhns, and have a son -- J. Donaldson Snoddy, an attorney in Kansas ; William married Ann Irwin ; Margaret mar- ried James Ellis ; Rachel married Daniel Lytle; Mary married Thomas Silliman ; Martha mar- ried Benjamin Kelly ; Katharine married John W. Henry, of Philadelphia.
Thomas Silliman aune from County Antrim, Ireland, in 1761 or 1763, and settled in Lower
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Bethel township, Northampton County, Pa. Here he married Mary Meaddagh, who was of Dutch descent. Thomas' father was a captain in the naval service of Ireland. From North- ampton County he came to this valley in 1795, and bought one thousand acres in what is now Gregg. His lands Iny along South Creek.
Hle had two sons, Thomas and Alexander. Thomas was born August 29, 1799, and is still living, in good health. Alexander was born in 1801 (now dead). Thomas is noted for his sturdy physical constitution and wonderfully retentive memory. The Sillimans were all noted for mus- cular strength and endurance and strength of mind.
ALVIRA.
John Eason came from the lower counties and settled on the farm now occupied by the Foresman brothers, at Alvira. He owned the lands where Alvira now stands; had the lands cleared by 1812. He was the first settler in the section and lived to be an old man. IIe had two sons,-John, who never married, and Samuel, who married Cynthia McCormick, and died near the mouth of South Creek. Brouse and Landis came with: Eason and settled on lands adjoining his. Henry Wise, a shoemaker, came in an carly day and worked at his trade in the same shop now occupied by - Buss for the same purpose. The cutters settled in the early part of this century back of Alvira. William Cutter, a son, married Isabel Mel- son, a daughter of John Eason, and was the grandfather of the Mecks now living in Gregg.
The first tavern in Uniontown, as then called, was kept by John McCurdy along about 1808 or 1809. Itstood where the post-office now stands. Joseph Lashbach succeeded him, and removed it to where it now stauds. Thomas MeKibbon kept it for several years. Seth McCormick, of Cumberland Valley, married Margaret Sim- mons, and lived in the upper part of the valley. His children were Robert, who mar- ried Naney Foresman ; Seth, married Hannah Hammond ; Hugh, not married; Thomas, married Maria Hammond; John, married Miss Coryell ; Joseph, married Margaret Schoo- ley; Sarah, married Robert J. Forceman ; Cynthia, married Samuel Eason; Susan, mar-
ried Matthew Hammond, and lived at South Bend, Indiana. Thomas McCormick, an older brother of Seth, lived up Spring Creek ; had no children. Widow Weeks' son Job lived in the valley and has a son Jesse, who lives oppo- site Montgomery Station, Northumberland County. They were among the first to settle at the mouth of South Creek. Hugh MeRein- hold came from Ireland in 1790, and settled where Henry Schooley now lives. The Bairds at an early day lived where John Haag lives. An old Indian fort was erected across the road from Haag's barn. James Baird had a black- smith-shop a few yards above the fort.
Schoons .- The first was a night-school, taught by William Schooley, Sr., in a house north of Spring Creek, on land now (1877) owned by heirs of John Haag. Another house was owned by David Follmer, Esq., in which Edward Beach taught, and a third on land owned by heirs of Gershom Biddle. These buidings used for school purposes between 1790 and 1808 ; in 1807 a house was built on land now owned by Peter Ludwig. Teachers in this house were an Irishman by name of Cochrane ; Moses Wheeler, a Yankee, and Isaac Sedom and Noah Wilson. Another house was built where Geo. Irwin's house now stands. Teachers were James and George Gray, George Nelson, Jacob Blaisdell, John Brady, Darius Black, Thomas Kennedy, Charles Mason, Charles Schriver, M.D., W. T. Thorfe and others.
Another school-house was built on land now owned by Mrs. King. Teachers were Carpen- ter, Quinn Deffenbacher, Hon. Isaac Slenker. About 1826 Miss E. Grier, sister of Justin Grier, taught in the old Baptist Church.
In 1884 there were five districts, with one hundred and eighty-one pupils, as follows : Allenwood, Hunter's, Wetzel's, Alvira, Russell.
THE WASHINGTON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.1. -This honse of worship in the White Deer Valley has been the spiritual home of a con- gregation organized nearly a century ago, but whose carly history is obscure, since no re- cords were preserved. In 1787 the Rev. Hugh Morrison became the pastor of the Baf-
1 From data supplied by Rev. J. W. Boal.
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ido Church, and served it until 1806, and some time in the later years of his ministry, he forined this congregation. In 1803 Rev. James Magraw, a licentiate of the Presbytery of New Castle, visited the Buf- falo and Washington Churches, and was called to the pastorate, but did not accept it. Most likely Mr. Morrison came from his home at Sunbury, occasionally, and supplied the pulpit until his death, in 1801, and the same year the Rev. Thomas Hood also preached herc, and, accepting a eall, was ordained and in- stalled pastor October 2, 1805, after having preached six months on the eall to him as a licentiate. llis pastoral relation continued nn- til 1819, when the pulpit was supplied from different sources until 1826, when Rev. George Junkin became a permanent supply, serving as such until 1830. The Rev. David Kirk- patrick eame next, serving in the same relation until 1833, when the Rev. Isaae Grier entered upon his pastorate, also as a supply, but was ordained and installed November 12, 1834. His pastoral relation as an ordained minister continued nineteen years, and marked a useful period in the history of the church. He was fol- bwed by the Rev. Matthew Patterson, who was installed November 14, 1854, and whose Fastorate ended in April, 1858. The same year a call was extended to the Rev. Jolm .1. Boyd, of the Hudson Presbytery, which was accepted, and on the 27th of June, 1859, he was installed pastor. His ministry contin- ued till October, 1867, after which the con- gregation was again dependent on supplies, from various sourecs. In May, 1870, the Rev. L. L. Houghawort began a regular pastorate which was terminated by his resignation in April, 1875. A unanimous call was then made, June 19, 1875, upon the Rev. James W. Boal, to assume the pastorate, and the follow- ing month he entered that relation, continuing until the present date. He is a native of Centre County, of Scotch - Irish aneestry, and has been well educated for the ministry, at Lafayette College and the Princeton Theo- logical Seminary.
Washington Church has a fine location in the beautiful White Deer Valley, in the midst
of a sober, industrious community, and has one of the most flourishing congregations of any Presbyterian Church in the country, in Central Pennsylvania. The church building is of wood, and has recently been repaired so as to be not only comfortable, but even at- tractive.
THE WHITE DEER BAPTIST CHURCH .- Some of the first settlers of the county were Baptists, but unfortunately lived so remote from one another that the formation of a con- gregation was long rendered impracticable. After the Revolution Baptist missionaries visited Buffalo Valley and preached at other points, so that, in 1791, a letter was forwarded to the Philadelphia Association, asking to be received into that body. But the purpose to form a church was evidently not realized, as action was postponed by the association, since "no messenger appears to receive the right hand of fellowship." No further attempt at organization appears to have been made until 1808, when Elder Thomas Smiley, originally a Seeeder, from Virginia, eame to White Deer Valley and organized some seattering families in the northern part of the county into a church, which was recognized October 23, 1808. A log meeting-house was built on the lot oeeu- pied by the present church, which was replaced by a better building in the course of years. The present is the third house used by the society, and was remodeled and thoroughly repaired in 1882. Like all the churches in the valley, it is a plain frame building, but has an attractive interior. In 1820 the church became connected with the Northumberland Association, its delegates being the pastor, Rev. Thomas Smiley, John Lewis, John Oakes and Philip Gibbon. The membership at that time was small, and in 1886 the mumber did not execed sixty.
Elder Smiley served the elinreh as pastor until his death, in 1832, and lies interred in the cemetery of the White Deer Church. His ministry was laborious and he rendered faithful serviee in his Master's cause during this pioneer work. He was succeeded by George Spratt, M.D., 1833- 31; his son, George M. Spratt, D.D., 183.1-39; William S. Hall,
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1840-13; John Edminister, 1848-17; William T. Bunker, 18-1853; Professor Robert Lowry, 1854; Goorge Frear, D.D., 1855; Joshua .Kelly, 1857-58; W. R. McNeal, 1859; Samuel W. Ziegler, 1860; J. Green Miles, 1861-65; George W. Snyder, 1867; and J. Green Miles, 1869.
In June the present pastor, the Rev. Marshall G. Smith, began preaching in the church and was ordained and installed in Septem- ber of the same year. Since 1860, with the exception above noted, the Rev. J. Green Miles has been actively interested in the church, and at present resides in that locality, supplying the church at Danville. He is one of the oldest active Baptist ministers in this part of the State, being now in his sixty-ninth year. Three of his brothers are also in the ministry.
THE EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION has churches at White Deer and Alvira. The latter was originally built at Spring Creek, but was taken down and rebuilt on its present site in the summer and fall of 1885. It was dedicated by the Rev. E. Kohr. The church at White Deer was built about ten years ago. Both are frame buildings, but comfortable places of worship with an increasing membership. The pastoral service is from the White Deer Circuit, the Rev. S. Smith, preacher in charge.
THE MESSIAHI UNION CHURCH is a plain frame building in the upper end of the valley, near Alvira, which has been used by German Reformed and Lutheran congregations for more than thirty years. It was erected, about 1850, for the accommodation of members of other congregations who resided in this locality, and who desired a more convenient preaching place than the old churches afforded; but the ministeral service has usually been the same as those of the older congregations in this part of the conntry ont of which this church was formed. In the past year the Lutherans have not had regular preaching. The church has lately been nicely improved and presents a creditable ap- pearance.
THE EMANUEL EVANGELICAL CHURen at Alvira was removed from Washington township, Lycoming County, in 1885, and rebuilt there. It is of wood, thirty-four by forty-six, costing
one thousand two hundred dollars. The number of members of the church are about thirty ; trustees, Jacob Baker, D. B. Artman, Joel Baker.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
JOIIN II. OAKES.
Among the names of Gregg township's most successful and highly-esteemed citizens we find that of John H. Oakes, who was born in the above-named township on the 12th day of March, 1817. ITis ancestor, Samuel Oakes, was born in Northumberland County, Pa., where he grew to man's estate and married Mary McDermon. From his native county he moved to White Deer Valley, where he bought twelve hundred acres of land, all of which was new and unimproved. He built a house and im- proved part of the land, and on it lived until his death, which occurred on the 26th day of November, 1810. His wife passed away on the 11th day of August, 1798. They were for many years devont members of the Presby- terian Church. Their children were John, William, Samuel, Isaac and Flower. Isaac was born in Northumberland County, and came with the rest of the family into the valley when lie was quite a lad. He became a farmer and eventually came in possession of part of the twelve hundred acres of land originally bought by his father. He married Nancy Hope, who bore him children as follows : Maria, born December 6, 1810; John II., born March 12, 1813; Jonathan, born February 19, 1815; Samuel, February 2, 1816; Rosan- nah, October 22, 1818; James, February 6, 1821; Sarah Jane, August 2, 1823; Elizabeth, February 17, 1826; Isaac Walker, October 10, 1828; and Margaret, January 8, 1833. Of these, John IT., of whom this sketch is written, grew to manhood in his native township, and was reared to the occupation of a farmer, as were his father and all his ancestors. His education was obtained at the country school during the winter months. After the death of his father he bought of the heirs the home farm, on which he lived many years. He finally sold out, and
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after a short time bought the farm on which his son Matthew now resides, and on which he built the out-buildings. In 1876 he bought. the farm on which his wife now resides, and erected thereon a fine residence and barns, and made a beautiful home. But he was destined to enjoy his new home but a short time, as hedied suddenly of heart-disease, on the 11th day of April, 1882. He came home from Williams- port on that day, and complained of not feeling well. He retired at the usual hour, and in the !
The result of this marriage has been the follow- ing named children : William Gibbons, born October 23, 1811; Martha IT., born April 12, 1811; Mathew, married Martha Foro- sinan, their children aro Sarah, Maria and Olive.
DANIEL ROLLMER.
One of the oldest families in Gregg township, Union County, Pa., is the Follmer family, form- erly called Vollmer. The paternal ancestor, Jacob
JOHN H. OAKES.
night awoke his wife by making a strange noise and in a few minutes passed peacefully away. Thus died a good and just man, monrn- ed and regretted by the entire community in which his life had been spent. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church and its treasurer. In politics he was a Democrat, and filled most of the township offices in his town- ship. He married, on the 25th day of August, 1840, Sarah, daughter of William and Sarah (Gibbons) Oakes. Her father died January 15, 1836 ; her mother died October 18, 1859.
Vollmer, came from Germany in 1737 and settled in Berks County, Pa., 1740, where he reared a family of children and where he passed the remainder of his days. When he landed in America his name was recorded by mistake as Follmer instead of Vollmer, and as Folliner the family has since been known. Michael Follmer, one of Jacob's descendants, moved, with his funily, into Limestone township, Northumber- land County, in 1778, and encamped under a large wild cherry-tree which is yet standing. Frederick moved into White Deer Valley in
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1795, where he bought three hundred acres of land, on which he built the grist-mill now owned by A. S. Sypher, Esq. The mill con- tained three run of stone and did custom mill- ing and was patronized by the people for many miles around. He married Miss Maria Bar- bara Geiger, who bore him three children, viz., Susan, Daniel and - Rachel. Susan married Joseph Mackey and had five sons and one daughter. Rachel married James Donaldson and to her was born one son and two daugh-
ried Miss Margaret Reed in June, ISOS, who was born August 31, 1789. Her father was James Reed, who married Jane Watt, whose people were from Lancaster county, Pa., and whose ancestors came from Scotland. After his marriage Daniel obtained from his father part of the home farm, on which he built the man- sion now occupied by his children and in which he died, March 30, 1875. His wife passed away on the 6th day of September, 1853. Hc was a practical and successful farmer and, as a
Daniel Fullmur
ters. Frederick died April 7, 1812, and his citizen, was held in high esteem by all who knew him. In carly life he united himself to the Presbyterian Church, of which he remained a constant member until his death. He was in politics a Whig, and when the Republican party was formed he became a stanch member thereof, and was many times elected to office. In 1824 he was elected county commissioner of Lycoming County, to which Gregg township was then attached. In 1827 he was ap- wife July 6, 1803. As above set forth, Daniel Follmer, the subject of this sketch, was born March 13, 1786, in Limestone township, and came with his father, Frederick, into White Deer Creek Valley, 1795. His education was such only as could be obtained at the country schools of his day. Ile remained with his father until after his (Daniel's) marriage, learn- ing the miller's trade and also working on the farin when not engaged in the mill. lle mar- I pointed by Governor Shultz a justice of the
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peace, which office he held many years by appointment and election. He was a school director six years, and at different times held most of the township offices in the gift of the people. To Daniel Follmer and wife were born children as follows : Maria B., born May 10, 1810 (married John Foresman); Jane W., boru May 8, 1813; Cynthia, boru December 29, 1815; Elizabeth, born August 2, 1818 (married Robert Caldwell); John R., born December 21, 1821; Daniel G., born November 11, 1826; and Margaret R., born May 28, 1829, and died August 12, 1881. John R. Folhner, one of the leading men of Gregg township, studied law with James F. Linn, in Lewisburgh from 1843 until 1845, when he was admitted to the bar. He opened an office in Selin's Grove, Pennsyl- vania, and started out with flattering prospects, but, owing to ill health, he gave up the prac- tice of his profession, and has since engaged in business which has given him an out-door life. He is an ardent Republican, and now holds the office of county surveyor, to which he was elected in 1883.
LUDWIG STUETZEL.
Ludwig Stnetzel, now known as Stitzel, was born in Nochandorg, Germany, on the 5th day of June, 1761. The time of his arrival in the United States is not known, but it is thought he went at onee to Berks County, Pa., where he married, on the 20th day of November, 1808, Miss Anna Maria Fox. The issue of this union was Sarah, born July 28, 1811; Maria, Angust 24, 1813; Susie, De- cember 17, 1814; and Samnel, who died in infaney, was born October 11, 1816. After his marriage Ludwig went to Mill Creek, near Pottsville, Pa., and built a saw-mill and a residence; into the latter he moved with his bride. After remaining at the mill three years he sold it and moved to Reading, Pa., where he engaged in distilling. In 1814 he emi- grated to White Deer Valley, Pa., where he bought the farm and water-power now known as the " Willow Glen mill property," on which he built the house now occupied by his daughter, Mrs. Charles Gudykunst, and the
ont-buildings belonging thereto; also a forge in which he carried on business many years. In 1822 he built the grist-mill above mentioned, which he operated until his death. He also built a flaxseed-oil mill, and in the various business interests thus engaged in was uni- formly successful. He gave employment to a good many men, and was looked up to as a publie benefactor, and as a man of integrity was held in high esteem. He was a Democrat in polities. For many years he was a member of the German Reformed Church and died in that faith July 25, 1823. His wife died April 25, 1857.
CHARLES GUDYKUNST.
Charles Gudykunst was born in Lehigh County, Pa., October 15, 1799. His father, Adam Gudykunst, was born in Germany, from whence he emigrated to the United States, at what date is not known. While Charles was yet a boy his father moved to Milton, Pa., where he followed his trade of " a hatter," which trade Charles was also taught, and at which he worked for some time. His father gave him the advantages obtained at the best schools in Milton, and he thus acquired for that period more than a common education. Before he was of age he was employed as a clerk by Mr. Ludwig Stitzel and remained with him until Mr. Stitzel's death, receiving and retaining until the last his employer's entire confidence. After Mr. Stitzel's death, young Gudykunt was made excentor of the estate and had entire management and control therof. He married Sarah, the eldest daughter of Mr. Stitzel, who bore him two children, but one of whom, Ed- ward, born October 5, 1827, is now living. After his marriage he extended the business by building a saw-mill and purchasing other lands, which have since been divided into six farms and other town-lots near Uniontown (now Al- lenwood) and other lands in Lycoming County. Mr. Gudykunst was an active and successful business man and had the entire confidence of the business men of his county. He was a di- rector in the West Branch Bank of Williams- port until Gregg township was transferred to Union County, after which he was a director in
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the Cameron Bank of Lewisburgh, Pa. In polities Mr. Gudykunst was an ardent Repub- lican, and took au active part in forming and carrying out its policy in his section of the State. Ile held most of the offices in his town- ship, and was at one time State revenue com- missioner, appointed by Governor A. G. Curtin.
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