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 47
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 47
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 47
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 47
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 47
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In accordance with this decree, an election was held at the time appointed, at which a majority of votes was cast against the division, where- upon a remonstrance was filed, setting forth " that the election was held in an undue and unfair way, and that the tickets were not in accordance with the acts of Assembly, and according to the
1 By Daniel S. Boyer.
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JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA
number of legal votes polled there was a majority cast against dividing said township."
The exceptions filed were sustained and a new election was ordered to be held October 12, 1858, "on the way proposed for the division thereof by the report and the return from sonth to north."
The election was held and resulted in favor of division, which action was confirmed at Decem- ber term of court, 1858, and the new township named " West Perry."
This township was formed from the western part of Perry township. Hiester's Valley is in the northern part, bounded by Shade Mountain. In the middle part is the Limestone Valley, com- posed of good soil. In the southern portion is Buckwheat Valley, a light-yellow gravel soil. West Mahantango Creek borders on the south and west and Perry on the cast. It fornis a triangle at the western termination. The greater portion of the western end is composed of good soil and is inhabited by a thrifty agricultural community.
In 1813 a road was laid out from the Men- nonite Church to a road at or near the house of Michael Allbright. This house is still standing close to the creek. John Graybill purchased about one thousand acres of land in 1772, then Northumberland County. Richfield, Juniata Comty, occupies part of this land. Graybill was born in Germany August 18, 1735; died Feb. 18, 1806, aged seventy He is interred in the old cemetery north of Richfield, and on his tombstone is inscribed, " He was the oldest set- tler in this vicinity." The sons of John Gray- bill were Jacob, Christian, Jolm and Peter. Joseph, a great-grandson, lives on the homestead farm. Jacob married Miss Snyder and settled in the vieinity. Christian S. Graybill, a son of Rev. Christian Graybill, now resides on the place. His sons were John, Christian, Jacob, Herman and Thomas, who all settled near the father's place. Christian, brother of Jacob and son of Jolin, married a Miss Lauver and settled in now Suyder County, and their descendants are in the vicinity. John, brother of Jacob and Christian, was ordained bishop of the Men- nonite Church when twenty-one years of age, and served until his death, in 1838. He was
the first Mennonite minister in the vicinity. He is interred in the old cemetery, and his de- seendants are still in West Perry. Peter war- ranted the land he sold to JJolm Shellenberger in 1775, near Richfield. Barbara, wife of John Graybill, attained to the age of ninety-three years.
Rev. Christian Graybill, a descendant, was born November 2, 1789; died February 10, 1876, aged eighty-seven years ; was forty-eight years a minister of the Mennonite denomina- tion.
CHURCHES .- The Mennonite Church was built in 1859. John G. Graybill, A. Winey, John Winey, building committee ; M. S. Gray- bill, secretary.
The Evangelical Association have a brick church edifice in Buckwheat Valley. It is named the Daniel's Church.
The United Brethren denomination erected a log church near Kohler's (now Shellenberger's mill,) but it is now abandoned, they having erected a new church at Richfield.
Rev. John K. Snyder, a distant relative of Governor Snyder, was born April 11, 1800; died November 25, 1881, aged eighty-one years, seven months and fourteen days. He was a colonel of militia when he joined the U. B. Church. He became a minister, and had the faculty to impress the truth of the Gospel ou the hearts of his hearers.
J. G. Hornberger, Esq., served several terms as county auditor, three terms as justice of the peace. He has taught school a number of terms and holds the professional certificate. His services are in frequent demand to serve as executor, administrator, assignee and guardian. Hle is a son-in-law of Rev. J. K. Snyder and one of the excentors of the estate of Mr. Suy- der.
George W. Sciver has served two terms as county anditor. He has taught fourteen terms of common school and is a progressive teacher. Ile is now engaged in teaching and holds the professional certificate.
Daniel Haas is a school director of West Perry township. An active school man. He is a grandson of Valentine Haas, who was cap-
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tain of a company in the War of 1812. His son, H. C. Haas, an intelligent young man, is one of the school-teachers of West Perry township. The mill now owned by Jolm Shellenberger is located on Mahantango Creek, near Rich- field. It was long known as " Kohler's Mills." Messrs. Pile, Honsewerth and Mitterling owned it. It has a strong water-power and has an extensive patronage. The present owner is an active and energetic man.
Thomas Shellenberger erected an extensive steam tannery in the western part of the town- ship about twenty years ago. It is now owned and conducted by a party who came from Lan- caster County.
Henry B. Snyder has a water-power saw-mill on Mahantango Creek, three miles from Rich- field. He does an extensive customer work.
John H. Willis was born of English descent in Wilmington, Del., June 23, 1851. His father died before the son was born. April 18, 1853, he was bound to Johnand Angeline Mey- er, Norristown, Pa., who moved to West Perry township, where Mr. Willis has ever since re- sided. He struggled through disadvantages ; laid the foundation of an education in the com- mon schools of West Perry township ; taught common. schools; entered the State Normal School at Loek Haven, where he was graduated in 1883. He was entirely dependent on his own resources. He has taught fourteen sessions of the common schools and was principal of the Middleburg schools when graded during the winter of 1883 and 1884. He is a deacon of the Reformed Church at Richfield, president of the Republican Standing Committee of Snyder Comty, and was secretary of the same in the year 1884.
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Segoons .- The condition of the early schools in this part of Perry (now West Perry) is best explained by the following extracts from the note-book of D. S. Boyer, county superintendent, 1857 : "School-house in Buckwheat Valley, near Gordon's, visited December 15, 1857. A log school-house, weather-boarded, not plastered nor ceiled, twenty four feet square. Wood-stove near the middle. Long desks along the wall. Long benches too high for smaller pupils. No black-board. Hats, etc., hanging along the
wall. Thirty-seven present. Union Primer, Cobb's & Byerly's Spellers, Cobb's 1, 2, 3 Read- ers, Testament, MeGuffie's Reader, Sanders' 1 English Reader, History of the World, German Psaltery, Smith's & Rose's Arithmeties used. No directors have visited this school.
"Second visit, February 4, 1858. School opened by reading the Testament. Eighty pu- pils on the roll. School too large for the house, which is nufit for nse. John R. Eeklin, teacher. "School at David Kremer's, western part of township, visited February 3, 1858. House eighteen feet square, situate near the road. A miserable log cabin, not plastered nor ceiled; well ventilated with broken windows and open- ings in the floor. Blackboard one by four feet. Long desks along the wall, and high slab benches. Twenty-eight pupils on the roll. Cobbs & Sanders' and MeGuffie's Readers, Cobb's Sequel English Reader, Rose & Stod- dard's Arithmeties used. Alexander Bertch, teacher."
This school-house was in that part of the district that is now embraced in the Independ- ent District, where they have now two new and elegant school-houses, seated with patent desks and well supplied with blackboards, etc. This is known by the name " Evandale." School property now valued at fourteen hundred dol- lars. There has been a marked improvement since 1858.
The following is thestatistical report for 1885; " Four schools, 5 months, 4 male teachers, sal- ary, $24. Males 116, females 79. Five mills levied for school purposes, $617.85. State appropriation, $126.75. For repairing, $57.53. Teachers' wages, $480. Fuel and contin- gents, $63.76. Collection fees, $43.53. Salary of secretary, $15. Resources in excess of lia- bilities, $52.62. Value of school property, $2800."
There has been a marked improvement in the schools of this district since 1858. They have four comfortable houses, and they have good teachers employed. John W. Haas, who was a professional teacher living and teaching in this district for a number of years, assisted in ad- vancing the schools.
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CHAPTER XIV. WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP !!
Lx the summer of 1817 petitions were cir- culated among the inhabitants of parts of Penn's, Centre and Mahantango townships, having for their object the creation of a new township. The petitions were' presented to the court of Union County, and John Hayes, John Dries- bach and - were appointed viewers. The two whose names are here given made a report at the December term of court, 1817, and de- scribed boundaries of the proposed township,-
"Beginning at a marked Hickory on the banks of the Su-quehanna River above and near the mouth of George Arnold's Run ; thence north 51 degrees west 1070 perches to a marked white oak ; south 39 degrees west 200 perches to a marked white oak ; north 51 degrees west 660 perches, north 53 de- grees west 400 perches, north 20 degrees west 780 perches to Shadel's house; thence 49 degrees cast 1070 perches to Middle Creek ; thence down the same to the Susquehanna; thence down the said river to the beginning, to be known by the name of Washing- ton."
The report was read the first time December 18, 1817. and again December 14, 1818, when it was confirmed. A part of this township was taken to form part of Chapman township when it was erected, in February, 1820.
This is one of the interior townships of Sny- der County. It is bounded on the north by Franklin and Middle Creek townships, east by Penn. south by Union and Chapman, west by Perry wwwn-kip. which has it- source in the western part of the county, flows along the eastern boundary of this township.
It is six miles from east to west, and the same distance from its northern to its sonthern bom- daries.
The township contains three valleys, extend- ing east and west, and three ridges running east. and west, parallel with the valleys. Chestnut Ridge, along the northern boundary, abounds in hematite and fossil iron-ore, and there are many drifts now open and successfully and profitably worked. The ore is hanled by teams
to Kreamer and Globe Mills Stations, on the Sunbury and Lewistown Railroad, a distance of two miles. . Flintstone Ridge, south of Free- burg, abounds in good limestones. Many lime quarries are open and lime-kilus are built near the quarries. A good quality of cement stone has been found on the ridge, on the premi-e- of Augustus Springman, near Freeburg. Neitz's Ridge, south of Flintstone, has several drifts made by miners abont ten years ago.
Pleasant Valley, between Chestnut and Flint Ridges, has a good quality of limestone and red shale land.
Flintstone Valley is a narrow strip of flint- stone land noted for its productiveness. The sharp flintstones and heavy soil, of which it is composed, require more labor to cultivate than light gravel soil, but it yields a good return to the husbandman.
Neitz's Valley, located between Neitz's Ridge and third ridge, contains a yellow gravely soil, easy to enltivate. In this valley strong indica- tions of coal-oil can be found. On the surface of the water, at a number of places, a seum can be found, some of which has been collected into bottles and tested. The lands in this valley have been leased by a party who propose to prospect for coal-oil.
Wisahicken Creek flows through Pleasant Valley into Middle Creek. It is formed by numerous springs, which arise in Chestnut and Flint Ridge. A small stream flows through Flintstone Valley into Middle Creek. This stream divides the quality of the soil. On the north side of' it is found the heavy fint land. and on the south gravel land. A small stream also flows through Neitz's Valley into the Middle C'rock.
IRON-ORE .- On the premises of William 11. Ripka, two miles north of Freeburg, iron- ore of the best quality is mined. Mr. Ripka is a millwright and put in the machinery of the sand-works at Me Veytown, Mifflin County, and built a number of mills and saw-mills in Cen- tre, Mifflin and Snyder Counties.
Iron-ore is also taken out on the land of Isaac Diemer, Andrew Bickel, George C. Moyer, C. Haines and others. The iron-ore business was commenced here about twelve
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' By Daniel S. Boyer.
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years ago by Heim, Cruikshank & Co., from Shamokin. It is taken on wagons to the Sun- bury and Lewistown Railroad, to Meiser and Smithgrove, a distance of about two miles, where it is shipped to Danville and to other places.
ELECTIONS .- The elections for Washington township were held many years at the election- hon 'e of George Moyer. When William Moyer, Esq., purchased the property he removed the old election-house, and on the erection of a new build- iug he desired the elections held at another place. A petition was presented at December term of court, 1874, and Judge Bucher ordered the elections to be held at Boyer's town hall, in Freeburg.
At February term, 1879, a petition was pre- sented to court praying for the removal of the place of holding the elections from Boyer's town hall to the house of Andrew Roush. . The Court ordered an election to be held April 19, 1879, on the question of removal. The result of the election was: Against removal, seventy- four votes ; for removal, sixty-five votes. The Court thereupon decreed that the elections should continue to be held at Boyer's town hall. COVERED BRIDGES ACROSS MIDDLE CREEK. -At February term of court, 1820, Samuel Templeton, George Boyer, George Miller, Sam- uel Baum, Jr., Joseph Stillwell and Christopher Seebold were appointed commissioners to view sites for covered bridges across both branches of Middle Creek on the road leading from Freeburg, through Washington township, to Selin's Grove.
They reported at May sessions thuit bridges were necessary over the two branches of Middle Creek, which report was confirmed by the Court. Contract was made with Colonel J. C. Ilerrold for their construction, who soon after built them, and they are still in nse.
EARLY SETTLERS. -- Frederick Albright was one of the first settlers in Flintstone Valley. He located one mile south of Freeburg, where there is an excellent spring. He built a log cabin on the tract now owned by Philip and J. A. Moyer. It was not until several years later that he took ont his warrant. The patent was granted November 27, 1788. It contained one
hundred and fifty-nine aeres and was named "Garter Snake." He and his wife sold sixty- two acres to their son-in-law, Adam Stahl, Sep- tember 22, 1800. Another tract of one hundred and six acres was patented as "Heroph" No- vember 29, 1796.
A man named Ruland was the first settler in Pleasant Valley. He built a cabin in the meadow on the farm now owned by John Hummel, a half-mile from Freeburg.
Peter Straub lived three miles northwest of Freeburg in 1785. He had a one-story, wea . ther-boarded house, painted red, on the site where the house of Jacob Haines now stands. He dressed in home-made clothes and never had buttons on his garments; he tied them with strings. He made his own hats of straw and wore no others ; he never used candles, and the only light he used was made of pine-knots, which were burned in an opening in the chim- ney, called kee-effly in the German language. He had only three hickory chairs in use; they cooked in an open fire-place, and the sonr-krout stand was kept in the kitchen ; he used wooden spoons and bowls of his own manufacture. He had no children, but left a considerable legacy, when he died, to collateral heirs. His wife also dressed in home-made clothes, and was an ex- pert at the spinning-wheel, an article much used in her day.
GRIST-MILLS .- There are three grist-mills in Washington township. The mill in Free- burg is situated on Wisahieken Creek, und was built by Andrew Straub, the founder of Free- burg. It is a two-story structure. The present owners, Levi S. and George W. Goy, erected a dry-kiln near the mill in the year 1883; also a saw-mill. They do considerable sawing, and use steam-power at low stages of the water to propel the grist-mill. This is a great con- venience to the citizens of Freeburg and its vicinity.
The mill now owned by F. E. Hilbish and George K. Moyer, on Wisahicken Creek, two miles east of Freeburg, on the road leading to Selin's Grove, was built by Christian Hautz. The present owners have recently remodeled it, and put in new machinery, and also a new steam-engine. They use the engine at low
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JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
stages of the water. This mill is used for customer work, and is conveniently located. It ocenpies the place where an old mill stood which had been erected by J. G. Menges many years ago.
Andrew and A. J. Benshell built a two-story grist-mill at Middle Creek, about twenty years ago, three miles- east of Freeburg. It has a good water-power and good machinery, and is now owned by Philip Benfer. An old log mill was built by Philip Morr on the premises now owned by Joseph Diehl, one mile east of Free- burg, on the road leading to Selin's Grove. It was afterwards converted into an oil-mill, which ceased operation with flax-raising. Frederick Stees erected a new two-story grist- mill on this site, and also a saw-mill. This mill was burned in the year 1853, when owned by Jacob Schoch, deceased. No mill has since been erected, and the race which conveyed the water to the mill is filled and leveled and the ground is used for agricultural purposes.
TANNERIES,-Samnel Moyer owns the tan- nery on the southwest corner of North and Front Streets, in Freeburg. He carries on the tanning business. This tannery was established by Colouel Henry Straub about the year 1835.
Philip Moyer carries on the tanning busi- ness at a tan-yard which he established in the year 1851. It is located one mile northwest of Freeburg, on the road leading from Freeburg to Middleburg.
On the premises of Mrs. George Hilbish, cor- ner of Water and Market Streets, in Freeburg, Francis A. Boyer, Sr., commeneed the tanning business about the year 1815. His father, Philip Boyer, bought this establishment about that date. The last tanning business was done by David Moyer. George Hilbish, now de- ceased, destroyed the vats about the year 1865, and a garden now occupies the spot where the vats were.
On the farm now owned by the estate of Michael C. Moyer, deceased, one mile west of Freeburg, his father, Christopher Moyer, estab- lished a tan-yard in the year 1831. The busi- ness was kept up till 1851, a period of twenty years.
On the farm of John Freed, three miles west
of Freeburg, Peter Witmer erected a tau-yan! in the year 1828. The business was kept up till 1818. John P. Mertz was the last to carry on the business.
On the corner of Front and North Streets, where the widow of the late Rev. C. G. Erlen- myer now lives, JJohn Roush erected a tan-yard about the year 1812. John Hilbish was the last one that conducted the business, and the present occupants filled up the vats about the year 1855.
DISTILLERIES .- There were twelve distil- leries in Washington township. The last two were destroyed by fire in the year 1853, and nothing now remains to show where any of them were located. Farmers would take their apples and peaches in large English wagon-bed-, holding from forty to eighty bushels, and get them distilled into whiskey and applejack for half of the proceeds. The prices of rye whiskey ranged from thirty-three to thirty-seven cents per gallon, and of applejack from twenty-two to twenty-five cents per gallon. It was a usual sight to see immense piles of apples surrounding the distilleries, belonging to different parties, which were awaiting their time for distillation, The names of the last owners of the distilleries and the places where located are as follows :
Peter Hilbish, where Samuel G. Hilbish now lives, one mile west of Freeburg. Jolin Motz, on the farm now owned by Peter Klingler, two miles west of Freeburg. Henry Straub, on the farm of II. M. Freed, three miles west of Freeburg. Lorenzo Haines, on the farm of Philip Apple, one and one-half miles west of Freeburg. John German, on the farm now owned by John Schnee, in Flintstone Valley. Henry Deckert, on the farm now owned by Henry Kuster, in Flintstone Valley (Bailey homestead). John Holsapple, ou the farm now owned by Jacob Morr, in Flintstone Valley. Adam Stahl, on the farm now owned by Philip and Joli A. Moyer, in Flintstone Valley. Philip Morr, on the farm of A. Springman, three-fourths of a mile cast of Freeburg. Lorenzo Haines, on lot of George C. Moyer, on Cherry Run, near Freeburg. Frederick Moyer, on the farm of F. C. Moyer, one mile north of Freeburg, on Cherry Run, near the old ceme-
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tery. Harman Speese, on the land of Heury Kuster, one mile northeast of Freeburg, on the road leading to Conrad's Mill.
CHURCHEks .--- The history of Zion's Intheran Church and cemetery will be found in the sketch of the Lutheran and Reformed Church in Freeburg.
The only church in the township at the present time belongs to the congregation of Unhed Brethren. It is located two miles south of Freeburg. The corner-stone was laid Sep- tember 5, 1880, and a one-story frame edifice was erceted in that year. The society are reg- ularly organized, and are supplied by circuit preachers.
Senoors .- Before the adoption of the com- mon-school system there was only one school- house in Freeburg and Washington township, which was located on the ground where the Lutheran and Reformed Church now stands in Freeburg. It was a log structure, oue story high, weather-boarded and painted red.
Among the early teachers were Kamfield, Schuyler, Gundrum, Hollenbush. Later were Logan, Sands, Burge, Burr, Montelius, Naille, Motz, Jesse, Ingh, Absalom and William Teats. The latter is still living in Washington township, of whom we present the following sketch, which embraces a long period in our school history.
William Teats was born in Washington township, Union (now Snyder) County, Feb- ruary 14, 1810. His father, William Teats, came to Pennsylvania from New Jersey. He died at the age of forty-three years, leaving a large family mostly depending on William, then only seventeen years old. His entire school term was only seven weeks. At the age of nineteen years he taught a subscription school in a log house near his home, in Washington township, in the year 1829. He continued to work at his trade during the summer and teach subscription school during the winter until the adoption of the free-school system. He taught forty-two terms subscription and public schools. He has three sous, who also are teachers. Levi, the oldest son, taught sixteen terms, but is now a farmer in Perry township; Philip M. Teats, second son, was ten years justice of the peace in
West Perry township, and taught seventeen terms, now residing at Bloomsburg ; Robert M. Teats, his youngest son, has taught twenty-two terms, nine of them near his home, in Wash- ington township. Levi has a son, Henry W. Teats, who is also a teacher. Robert M. has two sons,-Ira W., who has taught two terms, and William W., Jr., taught one term.
William Teats, the father, lives with his son Robert, with all his faculties unimpaired, at the age of seventy-six years.
Fifty years ago Washington township had twelve distilleries and one school. Now there are eleven publie schools, an academy, two music-schools and no distillery.
Geography was first taught in the county, in Freeburg in 1828, and grammar at the same place, 1831. George Weirick was the teacher who taught geography and the pupils were Philip Hilbish, now living at Selin's Grove; George C. Moyer, living at Freeburg; Elias R. Menges, one of the first associate judges of Snyder County, who now resides near Bristol, Elkhart County, Ind. Jesse Teats taught the first grammar and George C. Moyer and Henry J. Boyer (oldest brother of Professor D. S. Boyer), now living in Chicago, Il., were the only pupils. Theodore Burr was the first teacher who taught natural philosophy, and Daniel S. Boyer was his only pupil in that branch.
William P. Moyer, present principal of the graded school for Washington township, has taught twenty-one terms and holds the perma- nent certificate issued by the State. William II. Moyer, the present postmaster at Freeburg, also holds the permanent certificate. He has taught a number of terms of public school, and was an assistant teacher in the Freeburg Acad- emy. T. E. Arbogast was a successful teacher, also a school director, and is now one of the lead- ing merchants in Freeburg.
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