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 30

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885, ed; Hungerford, Austin N., joint ed; Everts, Peck & Richards, Philadelphia, pub
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts, Peck & Richards
Number of Pages: 760


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 30
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 30
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 30
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 30
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 30


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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


Gudykunst passed away on the 12th day of January, 1866, leaving behind him the record of a long and well-spent life. His wife, Mary, still survives him, and in the home of her child- hood, surrounded by children, grandchildren and friends, is awaiting without fear the sum- mons all must obey. Sarah Jane, the second


6. Lucy Jnest


He was a member for many years of the Pres- byterian Church and was one of its elders. His first wife died May 18, 1832, and for his second wife he married her only surviving sister, Mary, on the 10th day of April, 1834. Their children were Mary Margaret, born May 20, 1835; Sarah Jane, born October 12, 1837 ; Lydia Catherine, born May 31, 1810; Charles I., born December 16, 1812; James P., born April 21, 1845 ; Anna Maria, born September 21, 18448 ; Josephine, born January 23, 1851; and Eliza C., born March 11, 1853. Mr.


daughter, married William Campbell. Lydia C., married William P. Allen, and has one son,- William C. Charles L. married Martha Jane Griffa ; their children are Margaret B., Charles B. and Mary J. James P. married Anna Van Alstine, whose only son, Carl C., was drowned June 9, 1885. Anna M. married Robert Brown ; they have one child, -- Claud A. Jo- sephine married J. F. Hagenbuch. Eliza C. married Armstrong Brady (who died September 13, 1876) and (. Brown. The result of her see- ond marriage is two girls.


HISTORY OF SNYDER COUNTY.


CHAPTER I.


Organization of the County-Civil History -Rosters of Of- fieers, 1855-'85-Population.


THE canses which led to the division of Un- ion County and the erection of Suyder will be found in the history of Union County. The act of the Legislature dividing the last-named county was approved March 2, 1855. It pro- vided for an election to be held March 16th fol. lowing, to determine by popular vote whether the division should be made. The election was held, with the following result : For division, sixteen hundred and eighty-eight; against di- vision, sixteen hundred and forty-three ; major- ity for division, forty-five.


The act creating a new county provided that the county-seat should be located by a vote of the people, and any town furnishing a guaran- teed subscription of ten thousand dollars towards the erection of public buildings should be enti- tled to become the new county-seat. Middle- burg, Selin's Grove and Freeburg furnished sub- scriptions approved by the court, and became the competing towns for the seat of justice, with the following result : Middleburg, thirteen hun- dred and fifty-seven votes ; Selin's Grove, nine hundred and twenty-two votes ; and Freeburg, two hundred and eight votes. Middleburg was selected.


After the election making Middleburg the county-seat, a supplement to the act of erection was passed by the Legislature, and was approved April 11, 1856, which provided for the transfer to Sayder County of all " unfinished business properly belonging to the county of Snyder re- maining in the county of Union."


90


George J. Schoch, George Motz and John L. Reninger were chosen as a committee to erect the public buildings. They performed this work, and made a report to the court at the December term, 1856, as follows :


" That under the provisions of an Act of Assembly erecting a new county out of parts of Union, and called Snyder County. That your petitioners were elected the building committee to put up the neces- sary public buildings for said county of Snyder. That the said buildings are now ready, and that they are now prepared, if the same be approved as required by the said Act, to convey the same to the said county of Snyder.


"They therefore pray the court to examine the said buildings and approve the same, as required by said act, and we will ever pray, etc.


" GEORGE MOTZ, " GEORGE J. Senoen, " JOHN L. RENINGER."


The grand jury examined the buildings, and, on December 12, 1856, recommended their ac- ceptance. On the 28th of February, 1857, Judges A.S. Wilson and Daniel Witmer, judges of the court, accepted the site and buildings erected.


An act to change the county-seat from Mid- dleburg to Selin's Grove was passed in 1865. The preamble recites that great dissatisfaction existed in consequence of the location of the county-seat, and that the necessary county buildings had not yet been erected, and that the grand jury, at the February term, 1865, reported the court-house unsafe and the public records inseenre, and that new buildings minst necessar- ily be erected. William F. Eckbert, William F. Wagenseller and L. R. Hummel were appointed commissioners by the act, to select grounds in Selin's Grove on which to erect


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JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.


public buildings, a fee-simple deed to be deliv- ered to the commissioners of the county, with- out expense to the county, and a subscription of nol less than five thousand dollars to be ap- proved by the judges of the court, which was lo be transferred to the commissioners, who were required to procced without delay to erect the necessary public buildings, to be in no way in- ferior to the county buildings at Lewisburgh, Union County, and as soon as the public build- ings were approved by a grand jury and a ma- jority of the judges, the county-seat be fixed at Selin's Grove, and the records be removed from Middleburg to Selin's Grove. The commis- sioners were authorized to borrow money, not to exceed twenty thousand dollars, and to issue one hundred dollar bonds, payable in one, two and three years. They were also authorized to con- vey the grounds and public buildings in Mid- dleburg to the persons who subscribed and paid for the erection of the same. A majority of the county commissioners refused to comply with the provisions of this act, and they adopted no measures for the erection of public buildings at Selin's Grove. They could not be induced to do any act in reference to a removal. They were arraigned before the court, but every advantage afforded by the "law's delay " was taken, until too late in the summer to commence building.


At the next session of the Legislature the question of removal was again introduced, and after a long-continued contest, an act was passed March 21, 1866, relative to a removal. Peti- tions and remonstrances were sent to the Legis- lature numerously signed, and the people of the county were thoroughly aronsed on the subject.


The preamble of the aet referred to sets forth that,-


"The citizens of Snyder County had decided, by ballot, to locate the county-seat at Middleburg, and had erected the court-house and jail by private sub- scription, and at the close of the session of 1865 the Legislature hastily passed an act to remove the seat of justice from Middleburg to Selinsgrove, against the expressed will of the people."


The act authorizes an election to be held on April 24, 1866, to vote for or against a removal of the county-seat from Middleburg to Selin's Grove. In pur-nance of this act of the Legis- lature, an election, -one of the most exciting


ever known in the county,-was held at the time mentioned in said act, with the following result :


For removal, Against removal.


West Beaver township .. ...


211


Peun's township 275 5


Washington township. 99


184


Centre township.


182


Franklin township


200


Chapman township. 317


71


Perry township.


28


151


Jackson township .. 34


114


Middle Creek township 63


73


Selin's Grove borough. .313


1


West Perry township. 27


85


Monroe township 215


20


Middleburg borough


1


81


1.104


1757


1404


Majority against removal. 353


The year after this decision the court-house at Middleburg was enlarged by the addition of twelve feet to the front and twenty-seven feet


SNYDER COUNTY COURT-HOUSE.


to the rear. The interior was remodeled and refitted, and the court-room arranged as it now appears.


The jail of Snyder County was built about the same time as the court-house, and on the -anne lot, but no mention is made of it in the


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1423


SNYDER COUNTY.


records; it was, however, accepted, and is still in use. At the May sessions of court, 1885, the grand jury made the following report :


"That, in pursnauce of their duties, they visited the public buildings on the 26th day of May, 1885, including the county jail; that they found the said jiil unsuited for its purpose, insecure and out of repair. They further report that the said jail is bally located. They therefore respectfully recon- mend the erection of a new jail, better suited to its purposes, upon another and more suitable site, and they recommend the abandonnent of the present -ite, the sale of the same, and the purchase of a new ·ite.


"GEORGE G. GLASS, Foreman."


The report was approved May 26, 1885.


The county commissioners purchased a site for the erection of a jail. They have adopted a plan, which has been approved by the Board of Public Charity.


The commissioners on January 25, 1886, let the building of the jail to the following con- tractors :


Stone, brick and mason work, to A. Mc- Cauly, Lewistown, Pa., for .. .$11,979.00 Iron work, to the Champion Iron Works, Kenton, Ohio .. 2,100.00


Plumbing and heating, to J. B. Reed, Su- bury, l'a .. 3,532.50


Carpenter work, etc., Aaron Stetler, Mid- dleburg. 2,793.00 Roof and tin work, to D. T. Rhoades, Mid- dleburg. 1,084.25


Total. $21,788.75


CIVIL, LIST OF SNYDER COUNTY .- Follow- ing are the names of the officials of Suyder County, together with the names of her repre- sentatives in the State Legislature, from 1855 to 1885 :


STATE SENATOR .- Reuben Keller, elected October, 1858, to 1861.


MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE .- Daniel Witmer, elected October, 1857; William Wagenseller, elected October, 1858 and 1859; Henry K. Ritter, elected October, 1861, 1862 and 1863; Dr. Isaac Hottenstein, elected October, 1865; J. 11. Wright, elected Octo- ber, 1866; George G. Glass, elected October, 1867; William G. Herrold, elected October, 1868; John Cummings, elected October, 1870; William G. Her- rold, elected October, 1871; G. Alfred School, elected October, 1874; Charles Miller, elected October, 1876 and 1878; Leonard Myers, elected October, 1880 ; Charles Miller, elected October, 1882; G. Allied Schoch, elected October, 1881.


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Simmares, - Nathan Farry, of Perry township, from 1855 to 1858; Levi S. Herrold, of Chapman township, from 1858 to 1861 ; Frederick P. Bause, of Middle Creek township, from 1861 to 1863 ; Moses Spelt, of Beavertown township, from 1868 to 1867; Daniel Bolender, of Franklin township, from 1867 to 1870; John S. Wolfe, of Union township, from 1870 to 1878; Danil Bolender, of Franklin township, from 1878 to 1876 ; Daniel Eisenhart, of Washington town- ship, from 1876 to 1879; Daniel Bolender, of Middle- bing township, from 1879 to 1882 ; David Reichley, of Centreville township, from 1882 to 1885; Ner B. Middleswarth, of West Beaver township, from 1885.


REGISTERS AND RECORDERS .- Frederick Mertz, 1855 to 1858; A. J. Peters, 1858 to 1861 ; John Dorn, 1861 to 1864; Jacob Anrand, 1864 to 1867; Samuel B. Schuck, 1867 to 1873; James M. Vanzandt, 1873 to 1885.


PROTHONOTARIES,-William G. Herrold, 1855 to 1858; Jacob P. Bogar, 1858 to 1861; Henry S. Boyer, 1861 to 1864; Jeremiah Crous, 1864 to 1885.


DISTRICT ATTORNEYS .- Charles Merrill, 1855 to 1858 ; Charles Hower, 1858 to 1861 ; Samuel Weirick, 1861 to 1861; A. C. Simpson, 1861 to 1867; B. T. Parks, 1867 to 1873; Leonard Myers, 1873 to 1876; J. A. Arnold, 1876 to 1879; IL. IL. Grimm, 1875 to 1882; F. E. Bower, 1882 to 1888.


COUNTY COMMISSIONERS .- George D. Miller, 1855 to 1868; Isaac D. Boyer, 1855 to 1857; John D. Romig, 1855 to 1856; George Swartz, 1856 to 1859; Sammel Scholl, 1857 to 1870; George Boyer, 1858 to 1871 ; Henry R. Kneppe, 1859 to 1862; George Wehr, 1860 to 1863; Jacob Steffen, 1861 to 1864; A. K. Middleswarth, 1862 to 1865; P. P. Mertz, 1865 to 1868; Abraham Eyer, 1866 to 1869; Joseph Wenrich, 1867 to 1870; J. J. Mattern, 1868 to 1871; I. S. Longaere, 1869 to 1872; Philip Kinney, 1870 to 1873; J. F. Hufnagle, 1872 to 1875; Joel Row, 1873 to 1876; Elias R. Swartz, 1874 to 1877; Moses Krebs, John Romig, Joel Row, 1877 to 1880; John Reitz, Henry Wetzel, John M. Moyer, 1880 to 1883; John Mohn, J. N. Honser, Isaac Erdley, 1885 to 1888,


TREASURERS .- Frederick Rathfon, 1855 to 1857; Isaac D. Boyer, 1857 to 1859; R. W. Kern, 1859 to 1861 ; Isaac Beaver, 1861 to 1863; Geo. F. Miller, 1865 to 1867; Jacob Gross, 1867 to 1869; J. K. Hughes, 1869 to 1871; Jacob Gross, 1871 to 1873; Gro. W. Row, 1873 to 1875; Henry Beufer, 1875 to 1877; Reuben Dreese, 1877 to 1879; A. S. Helfrich, 1879 to 1884; C. A. Bolender, 1881 to 1886.


SURVEYORS .- Henry Motz (elected before division of the county in 1854), 1854 to 1858; William Moyer, 1858 to 1861; Daniel Weirick, 1867 to 1870; 1. K. Gift, 1870 to 1876; Geo. B. Benfer, 1876 to 1883; James Middleswarth, 1883 to 1886.


CORONERS .- Henry Masser, elected October, 1855 ; Dr. A. J. Sampsel, elected October, 1858; Dr. Wm. B. Christ, elected October, ISBI ; Dr. B. F. Wagen-


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JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.


seller, elected October, 1862; C. Bolender, elected October, 1867 ; Peter Hartmate, elected October, 1870 ; Dr. A. M. Smith, elected October, 1875; Dr. P. Her- man, elected October, 1881 ; Dr. E. W. Toole, elected October, 1885. ( For several years there was no coroner elected.)


JURY COMMISSIONERS - Geo. A. Schoch and Wm. Markley, 1867 to 1870; Henry Brown and (. G. Hornberger, 1870 to 1878 ; A. S. Helfrich :and 11. P. Weiser, 1878 to 1876; S. F. Sheary and Elias Strouse, 1876 to 1879; A. A. Ulsh and Henry Immmel, 1879 to 1882; levi Fisher and J. O. Goss, 1882 to 1853; Wm. A. Glass and B. Smith, 1883 to 1886.


Arprrons,'-Francis A. Boyer, elected 1855; Ner Middleswarth, elected 1855; Henry W. Snyder, elected 1855; Daniel Rohrer, elected 1857; Henry Smith, elected 1858; J. Y. Shindel, elected 1859; F. C. Moyer, elected 1859; II. S. Boyer, elected 1860; E. Bowersox, elected 1861; J. Y. Shindel, elected 1862; Moses Specht, clected 1862; David Swenk, elected 1862; Daniel Dieffenbach, elected 1866; Henry Benfer, elected 1867 ; M. L. Hassinger. elected 1869; C. L. Fisher, elected 1870 ; Daniel Dieffenbach, elected 1871; Jefferson Hall, elected 1878; S. 11. Sheary, elected 1874; Ner B. Middleswarth, W. 1. Glass and Daniel Dieffenbach, elected 1875; George W. Seirer, W. P. Moyer (appointed by court), 1880 ; Adam Smith, George W. Seirer, J. G. Hornberger, elected 1883.


CHAPTER II.


The Beach and Bac of Snyder County - Biographical Sketches.


" The inhabitants of the said County of Snyder shall, after the first day of December, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty-five, be entitled to and at all times thereafter have, all and singular, the courts, jurisdictions, offices, rights and privileges to which the inhabitants of the County of Union are now en- titled by the constitution and laws of this common- wealth, and that the offices hereby provided for said county shall be filled by the qualified voters at the general election in October next."


By the 16th section of the said art, the several courts of Union county continued to exercise jurisdiction within its former limits until the Ist day of December, 1855; and by the 20th section it was provided that all suits wherein persons residing in the new county were defendant, and which were pending and undetermined in the courts of Union County on the Ist day of December, 1855, should be transferred to the respective courts of Suyder County. This act also fixed the times for the holding of the courts on the first Monday next succeeding the first Monday of the several regular terms of the courts of Union County, in each year, and to continue one week, if' ner- essary, the first court commencing on the fourth Monday of December, 1855. The times for holding the courts still remain the same, with the exception of the term in December, which was afterwards changed from the fourth Monday to the second Monday of the month. The months in which the regular terms are held are February, May, September and December. In the first three months court convenes on the fourth Monday. Between the regular terms a time is fixed by the presiding judge for Argument Courts, which are devoted almost exclusively to the consideration of questions of law.


PRESIDENT JUDGES.


THE Bench and Bar of Snyder County had HIon. Abraham S. Wilson of Mifflin County, who, at the time of the division, presided over the Courts of Mifliin and Union Coun- its origin with the erection of the county, De- cember 1, 1855. According to the provisions of an act of Assembly, approved March 2, 1855, | ties, became the first president judge of the upon the scenring of the subscription of not less than ten thousand dollars for the purchase of grounds and the crection of public build- ings, ---


Snyder County Courts, and so continued until 1861, when he was succeeded by the Hon. Samuel S. Woods, also of Mifflin County. Judge Woods ocenpied the bench during the trying and exciting times of the Civil War, and served his full term of office, which expired in 1871.


Hon. Joseph C. Bucher, of Union County, was next elected to preside, and, after success- fully serving his full term of ten years, was re- elected in 1881.


ASSOCIATE JUDGES.


Mention of associate judges of Union County will be made in the order in which they assumed


Conaly auditors are elected for three years,


# By Horace Allemao, Esq.


( € 1 J 1


1


1425


SNYDER COUNTY.


the duties of their office. The first to be elected were Daniel Witmer, of Chapman township, and E. R. Menges, of Washington township. Menges served his full term of office, which ex- pired December, 1860. Upon the resignation uf Daniel Witmer, Israel Gutelins, of Selin's Grove, was appointed to fill the vacancy, who entered upon his duties February, 1858, and served until December following, when Ner Middleswarth, of Beaver township, was elected. In the fall of 1860 Henry C. Houtz, of Free- burg, was elected and served his full term, which expired December, 1865. In 1863 Daniel Wit- mer was again elected and served his full term of office until December, 1868. In 1865 Aaron Middleswarth, of Beaver township, was elected associate judge and served his full term, which expired December, 1870. George C. Moyer, of Freeburg, was the next elected associate judge, which occurred in the fall of 1868. Mr. Moyer served until 1873, being one full torm. lu the fall of 1870 J. G. L. Shindel, of Selin's Grove, was elected and served until the close of 1875. Benjamin L. Raudenbush, of Beaver township, was elected in the fall of 1873, but died while in office, having alnost completed his full term. In 1875 Daniel Gemberling, of Penn township, was elected and died during 1877, while in office. In September, 1877, Joseph A. Lumbard, of Selin's Grove, was appointed to fill the nexpired term of Daniel Gemberling nutil his successor should be elected. lliram O'Neil, of Union township, was then elected and served until February, 1883. In the fall of 1878, Sanmel IT. Yoder, of Middle Creek, was elected to the bench and served his till term. Upon the death of Benj. Rand enbush, above referred to, Samnel B. Schuck of' Monroe township, was appointed, September. 1878, to fill the miexpired term. Mr. Schuck ocenpied the bench until February terin, 1879. In the fall of 1882 Samtnel A. Wetzel, of Beaver township, was elected and became the successor to Hiram O'Neil. Mr. Wetzel is still upon the bench. Jacob A. Smith, of Middle Creek town- ship, was elected in the fall of 1883, and is al-o one of the present incumbents.


County, who have passed from the scenes of ac- tive life, there was no one more widely known and honored than the Hon. Ner Middleswarth. In 1792, when a boy but ten years of age, his parents, John and Martha Middleswarth, re- moved with their family from New Jersey and located in Northumberland County, about one mile south of where Beavertown now stands. The original house, built of logs, in which the father of Ner lived and brought up his family, no longer exists. Another occupies its place, and is now the home of Moses Middle-warth, a grandson of John, and a son of Ner. At the time when John Middleswarth built the original house forests abounded where now exist rich


Mer Mixedles warth


and productive farms. A trail of the red man passed his door. From this trail another crossed the valley and extended to a large spring on his property. At this spring the Indians were in the habit of preserving and curing their game, this part of the country being a favorite hunting- ground. Young Ner was a brave and hardy boy, and was, as in later years, a leader among his contrades. Amid these scenes and surround-


HON. NER MIDDLESWARTH .- Among the prominent and representative men of Suyder | ings he grew to manhood. He was married to


1426


JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.


Christiana Swartzline, by whom he had twelve children, as follows: John married Elizabeth Fall ; Mary married Jacob Howell; Moses married Eliza Houtz; Abner married Sophia Bickel; Aaron J. married Harriet Oyginger; Abraham R. married Elizabeth Bubb ; Merib married Jacob Feese ; Jacob married Sarah Bubb ; Martha married John S. Smith ; Sarah married Reuben Klose; Matilda married Peter Rigel. Mr. Middleswarth reared his family at the homestead, near Beavertown, where he died June 2, 1865, at the age of eighty-two years. At his own request he was laid to rest by the side of his faithful and devoted wife, in the grave-yard at Beavertown. Several years ago the Middleswarth homestead was burned, when many valuable documents pertaining to the life of Hon. Nor Middleswarth were destroyed. This property is known as the Carpenter home, and is owned by Mrs. Jacob Feese.


In 1812, Ner Middleswarth raised a company and entered the service as captain. His com- pany was attached to the Eighth Pennsylvania Rifles, commanded by Colonel Irwin.


In 1814, Captain Middleswarth raised an- other company, which was attached to a regi- ment commanded by Colonel Uhl, in General Cadwalader's division. They were stationed at Marcus Hook. Having returned with his company, he was, in 1815, elected to represent his county in the Legislature, and for thirteen terms he was re-elected to fill the same seat, viz. : 1817-19-20-22-25-26-28-29-30-31-35- 36-41. Twice was he elected Speaker of the In 1853 he erected a store-house along the west side of the public road, and to the north of his dwelling, and again embarked in mercan- tile pursuits. In the spring of 1866 he re- ceived his son-in-law, N. T. Daudore, into partnership, and though having now retired from the active work, he still retains his inter- est. On January 7, 1841, Mr. Witmer was House. In 1818 he represented his district in the State Seuate, and from 1853 to 1855 was a member of the Thirty-third Congress. His last public service was as associate judge, serving one term. While on the bench Judge Middle- swarth was often called upon to act as interpre- ter of the German language for the president judge. During his life Mr. Middleswarth ac- [ joined in wedlock to Catharine Herrold, of quired considerable wealth. From 1826 to 1835 he owned two distilleries. He was the projector and principal stockholder in the Beaver Furnace. From 1841 to 1860 he was the owner of a grist-mill, two saw-mills and a clover-mill. He was also the owner of consid- crable real estate.


The name and remembrance of Hon. Ner Middleswarth will long be cherished in the hearts of his fellow-men with whom he came in contact, and in the hearts of posterity, who shall learn of the nobleness of his character.


HON. DANIEL WITMER .- Of the prominent men living in the county of Snyder, there is no one more highly respected than the Hon. Daniel Witmer. He was born in Chapman township, Northumberland (now Snyder) Com- ty, on February 10, 1812. He remained on the homestead farm until seventeen years of age, when, upon the death of his father, Samuel Witmer, he began active life for himself. For eight years he worked on the repairs of the Pennsylvania Canal. Being industrious and saving of his honest and well-earned means, he acquired sufficient funds to enable him to enter upon a higher sphere of business activity. In 1840, at the age of twenty-eight, he formed a partnership with Philip Herrold in the mercan- tile and grain business, two miles below what is now Port Treverton, near where General Wil- liams' store now stands. Here Mr. Witmer re- mained in business for nine years, meeting with contiuned success. In 18 19 he disposed of hi- interest in the store to Simon aud Harrison Her- rold, and in 1850 purchased and moved back to the old homestead, where his mother had re- sided up to her death, in 1848. This place is situated about one mile above Port Treverton, and has belonged to the Witmer family for over one hundred years.


Chapman township, the eldest child of George and Elizabeth (Gross) Herrold. Both Mr. and Mrs. Witmer are still living, enjoying the peace and comforts of a well-spent and prosperous life. Surrounded by their children and grand- children, they pass the evening of their life in the cheering attentions of an appreciative new




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