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 6
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 6
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 6
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 6
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 6
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2 Lucretia Chamberlain lived to the good old age of one hundred and five years. Colonel William Chamberlain, her son, was born September 25, 1736, and married, June 8, 1758, Elizabeth Finbrook, born August 25, 1740, who was the first of his four wives, by whom he had twenty-three children. One of his daughters by Elizabeth, named Lu- eretia, and born December 20, 1765, was married, November 16, 1789, to Christian Nevins, who was born November 1, 1759. They had eleven children, among whom was Sarah, horn Angust 29, 1800. Peter Wykoff, born November 14, 1797, married Sarah Nevins January 31, 1822. There were three children by this marriage, - Sammel Wilson, Mary and John N .; Mary, as noted above, being born November 14, 1823.
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The youth of our subjeet was spent at his home, and in a manner not unlike that of the majority of boys. In due time he entered the academy of the university at Lewisburgh, where he studied until he was fifteen years of age. The War of the Rebellion then breaking ont, and there being a great scarcity of young men, in consequence of which it was difficult to obtain clerks, he was obliged to leave school and enter his father's drug-store, where he remained until he was twenty years of age. He then went to Philadelphia and entered the wholesale drug business with Elliot, White & Co., who were, in a certain sense, his preceptors while he attended the Philadelphia College of Phar- macy. In 1869 he returned to Lewisburgh and assumed the management of the old drug-store in which he had learned the first principles of his calling. By close application, good business qualifications and indomitable will he has built up a trade second to none in the town or region, and has earned a reputation, which is more than local, as a thorough and progressive pharmacist. HIe has been an active member of the American Pharmaceutical Association for a number of years. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Pharmaceutical Association ; has read papers before that body, and at its last session (1885), at Erie, was elected one of its executive officers. Hle is also an honorary member of the North- umberland County Pharmaceutical Association.
In politics Mr. Schaffle is a true Independent. Although taking a warm interest in questions of public policy, he has had no desire to per- sonally profit by politics, and therefore has taken but little part in local contests, although he was the candidate for conuty treasurer on the Temperance ticket in the campaign of 188 1. Hisenergies, when exerted ontside of his business or profession, have been almost invariably in the line of some general good, rather than personal preferment. Ile was for a number of years treasurer of the Home Building Association, of Lewisburgh, and when the Board of Trade was organized under very auspicious circumstances, towards the close of 1885, he was elected its president,-a fact significant of the esteem in which he is held by his fellow business men.
Margaret Bowie Hutchison, daughter of Charles and Agnes (MeCullough) Hutchison, of Kings- ton, Pa., -- the former from Johnston, near Glas- gow, and the latter from Paisley, Scotland. Mr. Hutchison has, however, long been identi- fied with the coal interests of the Luzerne region, having been an operator in the vicinity of Plymouth and Kingston for a quarter of a century. Mr. and Mrs. Schaffle are the parents of one child, who was born May 30, 1883, and bears the family name of Karl.
ELI SLIPER.
Eli Slifer, who, when scarcely beyond the prime of life, and during a momentous crisis, held a position in the service of the State second only to one in importance, honor, responsibility and usefulness, was of very lowly birth and caume of an humble, mambitious, but worthy people, the German Baptists, commonly called Dunkards, who form a valuable clement in the body politie of the State,-a safe, conservative class of citizens, but one, from its inherent nature, contributing few individuals to the ranks of public men. The career of our sub- ject, under these circumstances, forms a strong and rare illustration of eminence attained with- ont the environment of advantages and withont self-seeking, but purely by worth.
Eli Slifer's great-grandfather was one of the early settlers of Bucks County, coming thither from Germany some time during the first half of the past century. He had a son, Abraham, and his son of the same name was the father of Eli, who was born in Coventry township, Chester County, in 1818. His parents were poor ; but their children, five in mimber, of whom Eli occupied a middle position in age, were deprived of even the limited advantages which they could have extended ; for they both died while the children were quite young. Eli received some measure of care from Samuel Harley, a brother in religion of his father ; but he was very early thrown upon his own re- sources. In 1834, when sixteen years of age, he was apprenticed to the hatting trade in Lewisburgh. Speaking reflectively of this pe- Mr. Schaffle was married, April 20, 1881, to | riod of his carly life, Mr. Slifer has been
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known to say that whatever of capability or success or usefulness he obtained in later years was directly traceable to certain circumstances, very annoying and apparently unfavorable at the time, under which he was placed on first. coming to the town which has ever since been his home. He was a tall, angular, month boy, without education, and, by operation of a very common law of human nature, very soon became the object of unpleasant remark on the part of the better-favored youth of the time. This was a blessing in the disguise of a disap- pointment and misfortune. The boy was, at least, as sensitive in nature as he was singular in appearance, and he shrank from association with the boys and young men of the town, feeling his semi-ostracism keenly, but event- ually benefiting by it; for he became, in his seclusion, a student, and laid the foundation for a liberal self-education, continued through his maturer years. Had he been received by the youth of the town on a plane of equality and respect, it is probable that the evening hours, when he was not engaged at his trade, would have been passed, as were theirs for the most part, in pleasant and profitless ways, and his books, in a large measure, neglected.
In 1811 he removed to Northumberland, and engaged in the boat-building business. In 1845 he returned to Lewisburgh, and, in partnership with William Frick, established the same business on a larger scale, subsequently adding the manufacture of lumber. The firm of Frick & Slifer became quite well known in commercial circles, gave employment to over a hundred men, and was quite successful,-so much so, in fact, that Eli Slifer retired, after some years, with a reasonable competency.
Subsequently, with several associates, he became interested in a foundry and machine- shop for the manufacture of agricultural implements. He first participated in political matters as a leader in 1848, and displayed a high measure of ability in the public discussions in favor of Whig principles and candidates. In 1819 he received the mani- mous nomination as Whig candidate for the Legislature in the district composed of Union and Juniata Counties (Union then including
what is now Snyder County). His action in the Legislature was so heartily approved that he was re-nominated and re-elected by an over- whelming majority. In 1851 he was selected as the compromise candidate for the Senate, each county in the Senatorial district having put forth a candidate. He was elected without opposition, and that in a district which was successfully contested by the Democratic party the same year, for important offices,-a fact in- dicating the universal confidence reposed in him by the people of all political faiths. In 1855 he was elected State treasurer, but retired in 1856, his party being in the minority. In 1859, when the Republicans first predomi- inated in the Legislature, he was again elected State treasurer, and he was re-elected in 1860. Four months prior to the close of his term, in Jannary, 1861, he resigned this office to accept the more important one of' secretary of the commonwealth, under Governor Curtin, which position he held dur- ing the war, when it was second only to the Governorship in the grave responsibility and exacting duties which it demanded. Mr. Slifor held the office also through Governor Curtin's second term, resigning at its elose, in 1867 and retiring to needed rest, after his long period of intense activity, with his health irretrievably shattered. It has been said by a very compe- tent observer and judge that " the services he rendered his State during the Rebellion were excessively ardnous, exacting and mitiring, and all were performed with notable unselfishness and a patriotic devotion to the public weal."
After his resignation Mr. Slifer passed nearly a year in Europe, going on a government ves- sel, by invitation of the national anthorities. Since then he has lived in partial retirement upon his farm, near Lewisburgh. As a rule, he has not participated actively in poli- tical matters, though retaining a warm inter- est in watching the contest for the mainten- ance of the same general principles which he labored zealously to advance in former years, and in several campaigns, at the solicitation of his friends, he has, in publie speech and other- wise, expressed his convictions and used his strong influence for their success. He has
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been throughout his career a man of rare unob- trusivness, never seeking office, and only ac- cepting the high positions he has filled when, in the natural order of events, they were offered to him.
Mr. Sliter was married, in 1810, to Catha- rine Frick, a sister of his old business partner. There were born to them eight children, of whom three are deceased. John Frick Slifer, the first-born, died in infancy. William and John were both accidentally killed, the former in maturity, leaving a family, and the latter when of tender years. Of the children living, the two sons, Samuel Harley and Eli Slifer, are engaged in the sale of agricultural implements at Indianapolis, Ind. ; Catharine is the wife of Andrew II. Dill, Esq., of Lewisburgh ; Clara, the wife of Robert Green, of Muney ; and Anna Frick, the wife of William Walls, of Lewisburgh.
JOHN W. SHAFFER.
John W. Shaffer was born in Kelly township February 18, 1842, and received a common- school education and worked on the farm until 1867, when he moved to Lewisburgh and eu- tered the shops of the Central Manufacturing Company to learn the business of a machinist. After a few years he became an employe of the Philadelphia and Eric Railroad Company as a fireman, and continued until 1875. This oc- enpation did not, however, promise to him the advancement he desired and which every man feels is due to his family. He sought a more promising line of business and opened a cloth- ing-store on Market Street, in Lewisburgh, which he still continues. In 1877, he added a tailoring department to his business, of which the citizens have shown their approval by a liberal patronage.
On the 8th of December, 1864, he married Angeline Schrack, daughter of David Schrack, of East Buffalo township.
The ancestors of Mr. Shaffer were from Ger- many, and his grandfather, John Shaffer, was a native of Allen township, Northampton County, where he grew to manhood and married. In 1833, with his wife and family, consisting of five
sons and one danghter, he came to Kelly town- ship and purchased the farm now owned by David Heinly. After several years he moved to Maryland, and later to Stephenson County, III. Of his children, Abraham remained in the county. He was born April 28, 1815, and, January 11, 1838, married Elizabeth, the dangh- tor of JJohn Huunnel, of Union County. They settled on a farm given to his wife by her father, which is now owned by their son, Jolm W. Shaffer.
CHAPTER VI.
BUFFALO TOWNSHIP.1
AN angle of Buffalo township extends to the borough of Lewisburgh. The line between Buffalo and East Buffalo extends from where the borough line intersects the road to Buffalo Cross Roads nearly due west.
George Derr, when he sold to Lyman, moved to the mill (Shriner's) and built a frame house, which was torn down to be replaced by the brick house of Joseph W. Shriner.
GENEALOGY OF LUDWIG DERR'S FAMILY.
Ludwig Derr, died October, 1785.
Catherine -- , died 1786.
George Derr, died February, 1829, aged 67. Fanny Yentzer, died February 15, 1842, aged 72. 1. Catherine, married William Davis ; 5 children.
2. Ludwig Derr (died June 17, 1862, aged 71) married Charlotte Stoner (died February 8, 1875, aged -) ; 5 children
3. George Derr, died un" oruary 5, 1829, aged 67.
4. Susanna Derr, died unmarried.
5. Henry Derr, died unmarried.
6. Jacob Derr, married Isabella Hunter ; 12 chil- dren ; died August, 1878, aged 73.
7. John Derr, married Sarah McFaddin ; 4 daughters ; died February 1, 1869, aged 72.
8. Frances married Hugh MeLaughlin; 1 son, George Y. MeLaughlin ; died February 9, 1871, aged 66.
9. Benjamin Derr, died, unmarried, November 11, 1862, aged 56.
10. Elizabeth Derr, married William Shriner ; 2 children ; died September 26, 1862, aged 43.
11. Joseph Derr, married Mary Jane Kremer ; 12 children ; died July 21, 1885, aged 54.
. By J. Merrill Linn, Esq.
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Foro. M. She affer
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I child, 11 grandchildren, 41 great-grandehil- dren and 50 great-great-grandchildren,-to- tal, 103.
George Derr owned the Hodnot and Michael Green tracts; dying, he made a will, dividinghis property into eight tracts, one of which, the mill-seat, went to three of the children. Gen- real Abbott Green bought it of them, built the miller's brick house, and there Joseph Green went to live when first married. Samuel Wolfe bought it of Green iu 1838, and Joseph W. Shriner of the heirs of Samuel Wolfe, in whose possession it now is. If any one crosses the iron bridge and looks down into the ereck, he will sce the frame-work of the dam, and to the left, on the north side, the site, the head and tail- race of High's mill, the first in the county. It was abandoned somewhere in 1813, when George Derr built the present mill, which was near the site of the old Van Gundy mill, which can yet be seen opposite George Derr's barn. In repairing the mill, some years ago, Mr. Shriner found an old burr mill-stone, with the date of 1778 carved upon it-no doubt the date of Gundy's mill.
Next above the Hodnot was the Bremer tract, mentioned in East Buffalo. Here lived Hugh Wilson, who died October 9, 1845, at the age of eighty-four.
HIngh Wilson moved to this valley from Northamp- Ion County, and got here a few days before Christ- mas, 1790. Lived the winter of 1790-91 in an old cabin on his father-in-law's ( William Irvine, Irish) place, in Buffalo; then kept tavern for two years, one mile above Mifflinburg (late John Kleckner's). In the latter part of March, 1793, moved to a place owned by Colonel Hartley, one-fourth of a mile cast of Hartleton, on the old road (late Yeager's), where he lived five years, and in the spring of 1798 moved to Lewisburgh, where he kept store in a log buikling, formerly Thomas Caldwell's (which stood where Dr. F. C. Harrison's house now is), until 1804, when he was succeeded by William Hayes, and then moved on to his farm, one mile west of Lewisburgh, where he died, lacking twelve days of eighty-five years of age. His children were Dr. Wm. 1. Wilson (of Potter's Mills), Mrs. William C. Steadman, Francis Wilson and Mrs. James F. Lim.
All the surveys along the creek, beginning with the Hodnot (the Derr place), were sur- veyed in August, 1769, and, in fact, the surveys
of this whole township were carly made, the date of the warrant being the 3d of April. Ludwig Derr bought the Hoduot survey of Jolm Coxe, of Philadelphia, in June, 1772, for one hnu- dred and seventy-five pounds. Joseph Seips settled on the David Henning place in 1773, and James Fleming on the Dale place the same year, erected a cabin and cleared four or five aeres, which he cultivated and had in possession until sold to Samuel Dale. Here originated a famous lawsuit. Dale built a good square dou- ble log barn on the premises, costing about twelve hundred dollars. Fleming afterwards moved higher up the stream. Thomas Rees became the owner of the Thomas Foster tract, and October 21, 1800, sold to William Gray for three hundred and seventy pounds. This same place David Henning sold to William Cameron Henning.
William McCandlish, Sr., came from North Britain in 177 f and settled on the place John Lesher's family owns. MeCandlish died in the fall of 1783, and it was sold in 1784, to Andrew Billmeyer, the grandfather of Philip, as also of John Lesher. It was licensed as a tavern at August sessions, 1786. Billmeyer sold it, May 21, 1812, to Philip Gebhart, and it long re- mained the residence of his widow. By various couveyances it has come back into the family. An old burial-place on the premises has the dust of the ancestors, not quite yet plowed over. It was the place of rendezvous for the people of the lower end of the valley during the troubles of 1776-78. In the summer . @ 1873 John Lesher tore down the ol' On taking off the weather-boards a log sang of forty-four feet square was disclosed. In the logs were marks of arrows and many bullet-holes. Be- tween the flooring he found a shingle on which was written : " James Taler ; built 1775," the name of the carpenter, as MeCandlish was the owner. Andrew Billmeyer kept a tavern here, and it was a noted place for gatherings.
On the 14th'of Jannary, 1777, the Committee of Safety met at MeCandlish's, and frequently thereafter during that summer. In the absence of settled goverinnent, this committee looked after the general safety of the community, To this place Allison betook himself when the
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JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
Indians raced him from the place where the Samples were murdered.
In September 1788 the election-place of Buffalo was changed from Fought's, which is also the Rocky mill-site, by another name. In 1791 Captain Robert Cooke's company, from Lancaster, during the Whiskey Insurrection arrived at Billmeyer's, where a pole had been erreted. But the report of the advancing troops got there before they did, and the pole was cut down and hidden. The sokliers could not find it, and took their revenge in drinking up all the whiskey and eating everything in the house, leaving word that Uncle Sam would pay the bill.
The road from Kephart's, across to the pike at W. L. Harris', was laid out in 1805 by Hugh Wilson, Daniel Rees and John Brice. On the next farm above, now belonging to the Cameron estate, lived David Storms. In 1781 he was outside of the house at work, and his two daughters were engaged in spinning. He saw the Indians and ran into the house. They knocked the door in and sealped him. The girls ran up-stairs into different rooms. The one closed the door ; the other got behind the open door. They killed the one, and an Indian look- ing in to the other, seeing no one, went down- stairs. She watched them from the window, and thinking they saw her, she fainted. They did not return.
In February, 1769, Maclay surveyed the Bremer tract, and notes in his field-book the fine spring at the Cameron farm, and next above the late Andrew Wolfe's.
Henry Vandyke lived at the Jackson Rishiel place, dying in 1784. He came from Hanover township, Lancaster County, and left a widow, Elizabeth, and six children,-Lambert, John, Sarah, Hannah, Mary and Elizabeth.
But out along the road to Hoffa's mill, be- youd Rishel's stone house, stood the old log house of Captain John Forster, mentioned in Brady's memoirs. He left a widow, Jane. Charles Hall, Esq., built that stone house just mentioned.
Captain Foster's first son, James, afterwards married a daughter of William Clark, to whom he willed the old place. James moved to
Ohio. His son John, who lived in Brush Valley, was the father of Mrs. William C. Duncan, of Lewisburgh. Second son, William, a bachelor, said to be the first white child born in the valley. Third, John Foster, so long a partner of James Duncan, at Aaronsburg (descendants,-Sarah, married to William Vanvalzah ; Emeline, to S. S. Barber ; Margaret, to Dr. Charles Wilson; Jane, to R. B. Barker, Esq.) Fourth, daughter-, -Agnes, Margaret aud Dorcas.
From his blood came many a gallant soldier and officer for the wars of his country-in 1812, the Mexican and the late Rebellion. Hc died in 1786.
In 1804 Abel Owen lived near Rengler's. He was a lame man, but could whip any man in the county.
BUFFALO CROSS-ROADS.
Dr. Robert Vanvalzah, the progenitor of the large and distinguished family, came to the valley in 1786 and settled at Buffalo Cross-Roads in 1796, and died April, 18, 1850, at the age of eighty-five years. (See medical chapter).
1799, George Frederick started the first hotel. Hle and his brother were the first settlers at that point, and a hotel was kept there continuously until 1831, when James McCreight bought it. General Baldy, Andrew aud Philip Reedy, John Taggart, Robert Young and -- Haas, were successive keepers. Andrew Reedy built the stone house W. T. Linn lives in the same year the stone church was built, in 1816.
The road between Driesbach's Church and the Buffalo Cross-Roads was laid out in 1795. Just where the wooden kitchen of W. T. Lim's house is stood a shop where Alexander Graham commenced business. ITe began with a pack, and even in the shop he had about as much as would heap up a wheel-barrow, perhaps. James McCreight commenced in 1831, and kept a store continuously until his death, June 30, 1862. Levi and Benjamin Hauck succeeded, and they by W. T. Linn & Co., and then J. O. Glover.
1807. June 27, John Sierer and wife and Christopher Baldy and wife conveyed two acres one hundred and ten perches of the Henry Sees tract to John Kaufman and John Rengler, trustees of a high German school, to be erected
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on the place and kept for that purpose forever. One of those peculiar erections, with a school- room on one side and the living-room of the whoohnaster on the other stood there until lately. John Betz and his handsome wife lived there until their death. A new brick school- house was created and, under an art of the Legislature, part of the land was sold and the money invested. James Med'night was the first postmaster (in 1831), and was succeeded by the successive store-keepers.
It is four miles west of Lewisburg, and the village contains about one hundred inhabitants.
William Irvine, died November 18, 1795. His place was the " Thomas Wilson " warrantce tract, about a mile above Rengler's mill, adjoining the John Beatty, Wendell Baker, James Magee and John Sierer, two hundred and sixty acres; ninety cleared. li was sold by his executors, on 4th May, 1798, to Peter Dunkle, for fifteen hundred dollars.
William Irvine came into the valley probably in the year 1774, when he patented the tract. Ile is marked on the assessments William Irvine (Irish), to distinguish him from William Irwin, Esq., who is marked as "late of Carlisle." His wife was an Amstrong, connected with the family at Carlisle, and his eldest daughter, Catherine (afterwards Cathe- rine Wilson), was born November 16, 1758. He served during the French-Indian War, 1754-63. John B. Linn has his powder horn, on which are etched the stations between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, to Fort Stanwix and Crown Point, the plan of Fort Duquesne, the English insignia Honi soit qui mal, ludians with scalping-knives, etc. With the runaway of 1779, he removed his family to Cumberland County. The spring served as a hiding-place for many things, and a griddle, now in possession of J. M. Linn, still shows some rust-holes gotten there. Ilis wife died near Carlisle, and he returned to his place in the valley, accompanied by his daughter Catherine, and from her have come down many incidents of the hardships endured by the early settlers.
When alarmed by incursions of the Indians, they rendezvoused at MeCandlish's (now John Lesher's). Once, when on a flight, the quick car of the father caught the report of a bush cracking behind them. He pushed her behind a tree and coeked his ritle, but it was only a deer running by. Once they were pursued so close, they had to leave a cow with a calf only a few days old. He pushed down the fence so that she could get into the meadow, and they then fled for their lives.
Later in life he married Jane Forster, daughter of John. She died in 1824, aged eighty-four, and is buried in the Lewis grave-yard. Ilis children were, 1, Catherine, married to Hugh Wilson, father
of Dr. W. 1. Wilson, Francis (who died Febru- ury 15, 1873), Mrs. James F. Linn, Mrs. William Stedman ; 2, Elizabeth, married to William Love; 3, Nancy, to William Milford (the latter took a boat-load of produce to New Orleans, in 1809, and was never heard of afterward; his wife survived him forty-one years) ; 1, Mary, married to James McClel- lan, Esq .; 5, Sarah, married to Walter Charters. Wil- lian Irvine's father's name was Andrew, of Ferma- nagh, Ireland. Johu, Matthew and Thomas, of Phil- adelphia, frequently mentioned in Pennsylvania Archives in connection with the purchase of ships for the navy and powder for the Continental army, were William's cousins, as were also General William Irvine, of the Pennsylvania Line; Matthew, the celebrated surgeon of Lee's Legion; and Andrew, who survived so many wounds received at Paoli.
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