Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 59

Author: Sell, Jesse C 1872-
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Publishing
Number of Pages: 1036

USA > Pennsylvania > Blair County > Altoona > Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens > Part 59

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of Martinsburg. From him the town derived its name. His son .Conrad inherited or at least controlled this large estate after his father's death. He had three daughters. One married David Miller, who located in Indiana, and the Martins soon after followed. This removal and perhaps some deaths, leaves but few if any of the Martins in this vicinity.

At a date not just known, a Mr. Loose came to Morrison's cove from Virginia and located not far from Martinsburg. By profession he was a teacher. Among his pupils in Virginia was a son of Light Horse Harry Lee by the name of Robert. As the former was the name of the father of the famous confederate general, Mr. Loose was undoubtedly the teacher of the commander of the army that gave our govern- ment so much trouble from 1861 to 1865.

There are quite a number of Dillings in and around Martinsburg. It will be interesting to them to know that their progenitor Casper Dilling came to the Morrison's cove in 1790 and that he was one of the German ( Hessian) soldiers who deserted the British army at Phil- adelphia and joined Washington's army at Valley Forge. He still told his own experience in this way. "I was one of the twenty thousand Hessians who were bought by King George at £20 (or "20 pounds) per head to fight the Americans. We were told that they were savage cannibals, and that a terrible fate awaited us if we were captured by Washing- ton's army. It so happened that a thousand or more were captured at Trenton, and were so well treated that by some means this was com- municated to King George's army and caused quite a number of the Hessian soldiers to desert and joint the American army. Among this number was Casper Dillinger (now Dilling). When he came to Valley Forge and was taken before Gen. Washington and took the oath of allegiance he was told that his wages would be eight dollars per month. Mr. Dilling wishing to drive a good bargain replied that he should have more as he had brought with him his own gun.

Mr. Wineland gives the following graphic account of some of the Indian raids that were

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told him by living witnesses. He especially mentions Mary Ulrich (later Ullery), who afterwards became the wife of John Brum- baugh. She was at the time ten years old. The Scotch Irish settlers at Frankstown sent a messenger to the cove to give them warning of an Indian raid. They at once prepared for flight. They pursued a southeastward course, and at nightfall landed at a Mr. Puterbaugh's. They were urged to go on to Stonerstown across the mountain to a fort for safety. They arrived some time during the night and found quite a number of others from different parts of the cove. As all the settlers did not receive the warning of the approach of the Indians, or did not receive it in time to make their escape a number were put to death or taken as prisoners. A Mr. Houser was killed while out at work and his son Martin and daughter Rachel were taken prisoners. They were taken across the Allegheny mountain. Martin after being with them for some time made his escape and returned. Later on through a treaty Rachel with about four hundred others were brought to Pittsburg and she was sent back to the cove.

At Stonerstown the men formed themselves into companies of twelve each, and under the leadership of some one came back to see what damage the Indians did and if possible drive them out. One of these squads went to Roar- ing Spring under the leadership of Mr. Neff and here occurred the battle with the Indians. Mr. Wineland's description of it is brief and plausible and strips it of some of the romance that others have attached to it. He says that they found that the Indians had burned Ulrich's (Ullery's) mill and dwelling, and they lying in ambush fired upon the unprepared pursuers and killed ten of their number, Neff and a Mr. Messerly alone escaping. Neff leaped into the mill race and for a while kept concealed. When discovered he ran to save his life and was followed by one Indian who in the argu- ment of bullets got one in the head. Neff heard pitious cries from Messerly, but he was never found. So Neff was the only survivor of his company.

METHODIST CHURCH.

The first member of the Methodist church in Martinsburg was Daniel Bloom who came here in 1819. He was soon followed by Henry Bridenthal, David Byers, James Graham, Bur- dine Blake and Jonathan Graham. They soon after formed a class and held meetings in the log schoolhouse, two miles out of town. The house seems to have been built purposely for schools and a Union church.

Mr. Bloom and Mr. Blake both became local preachers, and did considerable preaching, both at home and abroad. In 1830 the Methodists built a small house, which was replaced by a larger one in 1844, which served them up to 1908, when it gave way to the present beautiful structure which cost $5,000.

Among the pioneer preachers we have the names of Jacob McEnaley, Thomas Larkins, Revs. Best, Stevens and Collins.

The present membership is eighty-five with sixty-five enrolled in the Sunday school.

Lutheran Church .- Among the first set- tlers of the Cove were also people of the Lutheran faith. Their first meetings were held in their private dwellings and school- house. After the Reformers completed their house in 1832, by mutual agreement the Lutherans used it at regular intervals up to 1843, when they erected one of their own. It was dedicated January 27, 1844. The charge being at the time composed of Martinsburg, Porter, Barley's, Clover creek and Woodcock valley.

The first building was inadequate to ac- commodate the congregation and being con- sidered unsafe, steps were taken to replace it with a larger one, built more substan- tially. The corner stone was laid July 10, 1852, and was dedicated November 14 of the same year. Rev. Henry Baker of Al- toona delivered the dedicatory sermon.

William G. Laitzle was pastor in 1845, Elias Schwartz in 1850, D. J. Eyler in 1851, Joseph Fichtner in 1852, and Revs. Rich- ards, Seifert and Stock following.

In 1894 work on a new house was com-

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menced which was completed and dedicated at a cost of $6,000 in 1895, Rev. E. Dutt offi- ciating. At present the church numbers 200 members with 125 enrolled in the Sun- day school.

St. John's Reformed Church .- The first structure in which the Martinsburg con- gregation worshipped was made of logs from the forests then but recently vacated by the red man. This structure was built in the years 1804-1805; and was located about one and one-half miles southwest of the present town of Martinsburg. The Rev. John Dietrich Aurandt was pastor at this time, and served this congregation along with others scattered over the counties then known as Huntingdon and Bedford, for a period of twenty-five years.

In the year 1832 a new frame structure superseded the old log building, and was located on the present church-lot, though somewhat west of the present brick build- ing. In 1858-59, the present brick building was erected, during the pastorate of the Rev. Jacob Hassler, at a cost of $4,200, but since then it has been remodelled several times at a cost as great as the original, if not more. During the last six months re- pairs and renovations have been made at an expenditure of $500.

In the year 1853 a parsonage lot was bought and a house built upon it for the ac- commodation of the pastor. This was later disposed of, and in the year 1874 a new par- sage was built at a cost of $2,400 and which is the present dwelling place of the pastor. The history of the membership of this con- gregation is virtually that of the majority of congregations, at times more, at times less. Many of the young peole have at times migrated to different communities, principally to the larger and growing cities, and have taken their letters of membership with them; and while they have not been lost to the church, they have been lost to the congregation. The present member- ship numbers 136.

The Reformed church in the United States has ever taken its place among the front in the Sunday-school work, the con- gregation at Martinsburg being no excep- tion. While at present the membership is not as large as it might be, the church is doing a good work, and is averaging over five cents a member per week in the general Sunday-school work.

Church of the Brethren .- Members of this church (nicknamed Tunkers) were among the first settlers of this part of the cove and suffered severely from the Indian massacres. They had from the beginning a strong membership in the surrounding country but they did not build a house of worship in town till about 1870. Since that time services are held regularly every Sun- day. The main body of their organization is at Fredericksburg, a hamlet two miles east, and Martinsburg is an arm of this. A number of their ministers have voluntarily located here. Jacob Brown is at present the presiding elder. Associated with him are James D. Brumbaugh, Frederic Zook, John Rush, Andrew Burket, and O. V. Long.

The Old Folks' home of the Church of the Brethren is located here and gives shelter and comfort to thirty-three of the homeless aged of this fraternity.

The membership in town is 150 and the enrollment of the Sunday school is 125.

Church of God .- The first member of the Church of God came here in 1830 or 31. His name was John W. Mateer. Through his efforts Elders E. West, W. McFadden and Israel Brady visited the place as mis- sionaries in 1832. This work was kept up for some years, and they were followed by Elders Jacob Lininger and William Mullen- nix, who added a sufficient number of mem- bers to justify an organization, which was effected in 1842.

The first house of worship was erected in 1843 at a cost of $800. It was dedicated by Elders Lininger and Mullennix. In 1876 this house gave way to another at a cost of

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$3,500. Elders Seigler, Bartels and De- shong officiated at dedicatory services. This house continued to be used up to 1901 when it was replaced by another at a cost of $5,000. A parsonage was also built at a cost of $1,500. The membership at present numbers 137, with an enrollment of 160 in the Sunday school.

Among the ministers was A. H. Long, who officiated at the funeral of the lost chil- dren of the Cox family in 1856. They wan- dered from home on the morning of May 24 and were not found till the 8th of April. Exposure and starvation ended in death at an unknown date. The occurrence thoroughly aroused three counties and about 5,000 people were out on the search. The parents, it would seem, were members of Elder Long's church although they lived in Bedford county. A fuller account of this sad event may be found in a separate chapter of this volume.

The Presbyterian Church .- We do not have data to fix the time of the early history of this church. It is certainly known that the first house of worship erected in 1837 and rebuilt in 1888 at a cost of $6,000.

The membership at the present time numbers fifty and an enrollment in the Sun- day school of sixty.

Progressive Brethren .- A house of wor- ship was biilt in 1902 at a cost of $1,500. This date was practically the beginning of the church. Since then about 1908 or 9, a parsonage was erected at a cost of $2,000.

The present membership is thirty-five with about the same number enrolled in the Sunday school.

River Brethren .- This church is just out- side of the borough limits. Members of the church were among the early settlers. Their first house of worship was erected in 1868 at a cost of $1,500. It was rebuilt in 1909 at a cost of $3,000. Membership, seventy. Sunday school enrollment, eighty.

The population of Martinsburg in 1890 was 588. In 1900 it was 590. The increase in the last decade has not been ascertained, but it is presumed to be much greater.

SOME MARTINSBURG HISTORY.

[From the Martinsburg Herald.]

The first settlers of Martinsburg were John Brumbaugh and Daniel Camerer, both of Ger- man descent. The following dates in connec- tion with their family history and time of com- ing to this place are taken from an old German Bible.

John Brumbaugh emigrated from Frederick, Md., to the Conococheague settlement in the year 1783. He did not come further at that time, for in those days it was dangerous to live far from the forts, on account of the Indians, and at that time the red men had possession of this territory. While Brumbaugh lived at Conococheague Daniel Camerer, who came from the city of Worms, near the river Rhine, and who, like Brumbaugh, had settled near the Mason and Dixon line, married Brum- baugh's oldest daughter, Margaret Brumbaugh, who was then twenty years of age and her husband a few years her senior, he having been born in 1760. At the time Mr. Brumbaugh and his wife, whose maiden name was Mary Eliza- beth Metzker, had two daughters, the younger of whom after their coming to this place be- came the wife of a man by the name of Ken- singer.

John Brumbaugh, wife and younger daughter and a boy living with them, came by way of Fort Louden and Fort Bedford, and on to where Martinsburg is now located, then a

wilderness densely covered with timber. Having the pick of the land he located here. He went back to Bedford and procured a war- rant for 1,500 acres of land, March 14, 1785. The Indians were then leaving this part of the country. Some time afterwards he employed a surveyor and had the land surveyed. Later, September 7, 1792, patent for the land was issued to him by the Penns, and which I have in my possession, but he held a warrant for the land during the seven preceding years.

After living here some time another daughter was born in the Brumbaugh family, Lydia Ann, who afterwards became the wife of John Stoner. I will here relate an incident in the

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life of Mr. and Mrs. Brumbaugh. While they were living near Frederick, Md., a company of Scotch Highlanders who had a small child, a boy, in their possession, left the child alone on the door step of the Brumbaugh house. Mr. Brumbaugh and wife took him in and brought the boy with them to their new home here in the wilderness, or far west, as this locality was then called. They named the boy Brumbaugh. It was never known to them how the High- landers got possession of the child. When he grew to manhod he learned to play the violin and was nick-named "Fiddler Jack."

The first house John Brumbaugh built was north of the "Y," where three pear trees are still standing. The second house he built was nearer the site of Martinsburg, near the pres- ent stone house on the Hagey-Clapper farm, formerly known as the Stoner homestead.

Some few years after John Brumbaugh came here, Daniel Camerer and wife and two children came to the cove. Having heard from his father-in-law, John Brumbaugh, they sold their house and farms, and with their stock and household goods emigrated to this place.

While Daniel Camerer and his wife lived at Conococheague creek near the Mason and Dixon line, he built a house there, and I am told by good authority, a man who was there and saw the house, that his name, "Kam- merer," for that was the German way of spell- ing the name, is cut on a large stone above the door. The house is still standing and anyone going there can see the stone bearing his name. While living in this house Mr. and Mrs. Camerer became the parents of two children, a daughter and son, Hannah Camerer born Jan- uary 28, 1792, and David Camerer, born in July, 1794. When the Camerer family landed here they had a large amount of money and stock, and for years were regarded as among the wealthiest of the early settlers.

Daniel Camerer purchased 700 acres of land from his father-in-law, John Brumbaugh, thereby obtaining the present town site of Mar- tinsburg. The deed for this land was made November 1, 1799, a little over one hundred and nine years ago, and can be seen at the

home of the writer. A recorded copy of the deed can also be seen in Bedford, at the court house, book No. 19, page 62, this territory then being a part of Bedford county. Aside from the borough of Martinsburg, this 700 acres of land purchased by Daniel Camerer is divided into the following tracts, beginning at the north : Blake and Streasser tract, James Camerer farm, Snyder farm, Liebegott farm, Provins farm, John E. Furry farm, S. L. Haf- fley farm, and the Orville Long farm. His father-in-law's tract lays to the west and con- sisted of the Hagey-Clapper farm, William Tipton farm, and other nearby lands. Lydia Ann, who became the wife of John Stoner, in- herited the homestead farm.

Daniel Camerer and wife were the parents of eleven children, nine of them being born after they emigrated from Concocheague to this place. Elizabeth, born 1796; John, born 1798; Louis, born 1800; Mary, born 1802; Margaret, born 1803; Samuel, born 1806; D. Camerer, born 1807, died in infancy; Daniel, born 1809; James, born 1812. These are all dead and all buried in Spring Hope cemetery, except two, Louis, buried at Steubenville, Ohio, and Mary, wife of Jesse Speelman, buried at Cherrytree, Indiana county, Pa. The latter inherited the Blake and Streasser tracts which they sold be- fore locating at Cherrytree. I have no record of the death of John Brumbaugh and wife, but both are buried in Spring Hope cemetery. Daniel Camerer was aged seventy-three years when he died and his wife, Margaret, was aged sixty-nine years at her death.

Mrs. Daniel Camerer was a member of the Church of Brethren, then known as the Ger- man Baptist church, and her sons John and James Camerer, built the first German Baptist church at Martinsburg, both being identified with the same church early in life. The build- ing is still standing, corner of Wall and Chris- tiana streets, opposite the present church, and is owned by Miss Sara Snyder, of Philadelphia, having been since converted into a dwelling house, now occupied by J. S. Wareham and family.

The first minister of the church in this region

THE LEVI BOLGER MILL, MARTINSBURG, PA.

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was Rev. Manelia, who prior to that time was a member of the Roman Catholic church, and had been educated for the priesthood. He with- drew from that church and united with the German Baptist church. Rev. Manelia was a blacksmith by trade, coming here at intervals from his home near Mason and Dixon line. On one of his visits here he told John and James Camerer of an encounter he had with a panther which sprang at him in his path. He looked the wild animal squarely in the eyes for a long time when the panther turned and walked away. He had his blacksmith's leather apron with him, and thinking to frighten the panther, shook and pounded the apron, but to his amazement the panther sprang back close in front of him in the path, keeping him at bay for a much longer time.

Yarach Brumbaugh, who lived at James creek, was also one of the early ministers of the church, crossing the Tussey mountain to hold services in the cove. The next pastor of the church was Rev. John Soyster, who mar- ried Daniel Camerer's oldest daughter, Hannah Camerer. The next minister of the church to preach here was Rev. George Brumbaugh, who preached in the German language in both the old and the new churches.

I have written the above by request. Part of the information was given me by my mother. JAMES H. CAMERER.

Martinsburg, Pa.

(The mother of the writer, Mrs. Elizabeth Camerer, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Horn, a native of Franklin county, born on Little Antietam creek, near Waynesboro, and widow of James Camerer, deceased, . the youngest child of Daniel and Margaret Brum- baugh Camerer, is eighty-eight years old and possesses a good memory. She has a good knowledge of the early history of the cove. The data as above has been gathered for a history of the Brumbaugh family now being written and is kindly given to the Herald for publica- tion .- Editor. )

NEWRY.

Newry is situated in the beautiful Poplar run valley, in the western part of Blair township. Patrick Cassidy, the founder of the town, was a native of Newry, Ireland. He came to America when but a boy, before the struggle for independence. He was at the time a servant for a British military offi- cer. Soon after the Revolutionary war he purchased of Samuel Pryor and John Gil- bert 300 acres of land. which include the site of the present town. The land was unim- proved, and in 1787 he became a permanent resident. In early life he became a proficient surveyor, and he figured prominently in much of the early surveying of the coun- try. He plotted the towns of Hollidays- burg and Williamsburg. His mantle seems to have fallen upon his descendents or his family connections, as Peter and his son, the late Captain Francis Cassidy, did perhaps more of the surveying than any other two men in the county in their day.

About the year 1793 as surveyor and pro- prietor, Peter Cassidy laid out this town and called it Newry in honor of the place of his birth in Ireland. The original plot contained 100 lots each fifty feet front by 200 feet in depth and as was customary in those days, many of them were disposed of by lottery. Subsequently additions were made by the proprietor, on the north and south of fifty lots.

Although containing but a small number of inhabitants, it was noted in its early his- tory as an active business center. It was an important point on the highway that was chiefly used in crossing the Allegheny mountain. The building of the pike through Duncansville and Blair's gap and the com- pletion of the canal and the Portage rail- road diverted the trade and lessened the chances of its growth and general prosper- ity. The business was wholly confined to several stores which in trade with the sur- rounding country kept the place from de- cline.

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Between 1860 and 1870 after repeated ef- forts by citizens, a railroad was graded three-quarters of a mile to intersect with the abandoned Portage road. The Pennsyl- vania railroad then took possession of it and operated it with both freight and pas- senger service, but about 1900 it was aban- doned as an unprofitable enterprise. The track was lifted and the people are com- pelled to use Duncansville as their nearest shipping point.

At an earlier date it contained a hat fac- tory, furniture, shoe, wagon and tin shops and a carpet weaving establishment, but the larger factories in other places have long since put them out of commission.

In answer to a petition to the January quarter sessions court, held at Hollidays- burg in 1876, it was provided that the town be incorporated for borough purposes alone, "that the voters of said intended borough shall not form a separate election district, but shall vote at the same place as hereto- fore." It was further provided that for school purposes the town should remain connected with the township of Blair.

The judgment of the grand jury on the matter in question was confirmed March 25, 1876, and the court decreed "that the annual borough elections shall be held at the pub- . lic schoolhouse in said borough on the third Tuesday of February in accordance with and subject to all provisions of the laws reg- ulating township elections." A decree was made by the court, a date was set and offi- cers appointed to hold the first borough election. Samuel Fink was appointed to give due notice of said election and Francis Cassidy appointed judge. M. B. Smith and Robert Conrad inspectors. The election was held April 25, 1876, and resulted as fol- lows: James Conrad, burgess ; Jonas Ans- man, constable ; John Hoover, Frank McIn- tosh, S. B. Weaver, M. B. Smith and S. W. Noel, town council. Subsequently it was separated from the township for school pur- poses, and has been for a number of years a full-fledged borough.

The first schoolhouse was built in 1820. Subsequently a brick building supplanted it, which in order to meet the growing de- mands was afterwards enlarged, and at the present time the room provided is inade- quate to meet the demands, and a hall is rented for the use of the primary school.

The earliest teachers now known were Robert McNamara and a Mr. McCoy, who taught about 1820-5. John Shannon, a man of ponderous weight, about 300 pounds, taught for a number of years, or up to the improved school system of 1834. After him came McGarey, Martin Christy and Peter O'Hagan. Michael Hasson was also a prominent educator, who later on became a lawyer and represented Cambria county in the legislature.

The firm of H. and F. McIntosh in the mercantile business, established in 1855, is still continued in the old name. The busi- ness of Adam Hoover, established many years before McIntosh, is still conducted at the old stand, while that of Alexander Knox of former years was sold out to James Mc- Masters, who greatly improved the prop- erty and enlarged the business. After his death his daughter still continued the busi- ness in the McMaster name.

The town contains two church edifices- Catholic and Lutheran. They both date back to an early date in the settlement of the place. Among the first settlers were members of the Lutheran church. The ex- act time of the organization of their church is not certainly known. Tradition points to about 1815. Their first services were doubtless held as was the custom of those days, in their rudely constructed log houses. The Weavers, Ferrees, Bakers, Wilts, Morgans, Shaws, Leightys and Ying- lings were among the pioneer members. Among the early ministers were Schmick, Martin Hoffman and Guenther.

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Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 59

Author: Sell, Jesse C 1872- Publication date: 1911 Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Publishing Number of Pages: 1036

Author: Sell, Jesse C 1872-
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Publishing
Number of Pages: 1036