|
Delaware Township
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...
Edited by F. Ellis and A. N. Hungerford.
Published in Philadelphia by Everts, Peck & Richards, 1886
Pages 865-874
CHAPTER XVIII.
DELAWARE TOWNSHIP
In the year 1835 a petition was presented to court, asking that a new township be formed out of part of Walker and Greenwood. In answer to this petition, viewers were appointed to examine the territory, and, if deemed advisable lay out a township, and report to the court. John Patterson, S. Turbett and A. Gustine, viewers, reported September 2, 1835, and presented a draft of the proposed boundaries and suggested to the court that the new township be called Delaware.
The report was filed September 9, 1835, and on the 9th of December of the same year it was referred back to the original viewers for corrections. At the next session of the court the amended report was presented with the following specification:
“To the Honorable the Judges within mentioned And now to witt 27th day of January, 1836. On reconsideration began at a post corner southeast corner of Fayette township; then south five degrees east three miles and one hundred and thirty-two perches to a chestnut oak on the summit of Turkey Ridge, standing in the line of Perry County; thence along the different courses of the same as aforesaid, as represented by the red line through the above draught and humbly submit the same to court.
“A. Gustine,
“S. Turbett.”
The report was laid over until February 3, 1836, when it was read in open count and confirmed.
The township is bounded on the south by Perry County, on the east by Perry County and Greenwood township, Juniata County, on the north, by Fayette township and on the west by Walker township. Cocolamus Creek extends through the northeastern part of the township, and Delaware Run, which rises in Fayette township, flows in a southwesterly direction through Thompsontown and enters the Juniata a short distance below the town. This stream doubtless took its name from the Delaware Indians, and is called Delaware Run in the earliest records, papers and surveys.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.—There were many tracts of land in the territory of the purchase of 1754 that were located by speculators, whose names disappear after a few years. A tract of six hundred acres, adjoining land of James Crampton, was taken up or purchased by Boynton, Wharton, Morgan & Co., before 1767, as they are assessed on that amount of land in that year, who held it until 1787. In 1769 they are assessed on sic hundred acres of land in Lack township. They were a firm of Philadelphia merchants, who took up lands in different parts of the New Purchase and also in the purchase of 1768, lying farther west. They became possessed of many thousands of acres, not only in Pennsylvania, but in the Northwest Territory, those embracing Ohio.
Thomas Evans resided here from 1767 to 1771, and his lands passed to the Cooksons, James Gallagher resided near the river from 1763 to 1780, when he disappears. Of other names of parties who took up lands, some of whom resided here, are Edmund Huff, Edward Edwards, James McLin, Duncan McDougal.
The following sketches are of a few of the early families who settled within the limits of what is now Delaware township:
William Stewart, whose name appears on the assessment roll of Fermanagh township in 1763, came to this county in October 1752, with his parents, Archibald and Margaret Stewart, from Newry, Ireland, and in September, 1753, came up the Juniata and settled on what later was known as the “Bark Tavern Tract,” in Perry County. He was driven off by the Indians, as were the other settlers, and went down to the other side of the mountains, near Carlisle. In 1761 he came up the Juniata River, above his early settlement, to one mile above what is now Thompsontown, and on November 17th, in that year, purchased of Henry Cooper a tract of three hundred acres of land, which was warranted to Jas. Chambers, September 8, 1755, and conveyed to Cooper July 15, 1761. In September, 1763, he warranted forty-three acres adjoining. He returned to near Carlisle in the second exodus of the settlers, and in 1765 married, and Elizabeth, his wife, in an affidavit made in 1810, says that in the spring of 1766 they went to the settlement on Little Juniata Creek, now Centre township, Perry County, (where an account of their early settlement will be found), and in the fall of 1766 they came to the settlement above Delaware Run, where he lived until his death. On August 13, 1768, he purchased an improvement on the opposite side of the river from his settlement, of William Wilcox. This tract then in Milford township, and in 1791 came to Fermanagh. A part of the land on this side, called “Barley-field and Hop-yard,” was sold November 24, 1775, to William Brown and David Walker.
The settlers in this region, then known as the Western County, though themselves struggling with adverse circumstances, responded to the appeal in 1774 of the sufferers of Boston by the infamous Stamp Act, and of the contributors was William Stewart, who paid to that end sixteen shillings. He was out on duty with others from this section in 1778, as the following will set forth:
“Permit the bearer, William Stuart, to pass unmolested to Cumberland County, as he hath served two months honestly and faithfully in the 4th Class of Cumberland Militia. Given under my hand this 4th day of January, 1778.
“Philip Mathias, Capt.”
His name also appears in 1780 among those who were associated in this county for protection. He lived until the close of the Revolution and died July 29, 1784, and his wife, Elizabeth, lived with her children until August 12, 1822.
The following receipt is of interest:
“Received of Mrs. Elizabeth Stewart one musket bayonet and belt complete, the property of the United States.
“Samuel Bryson,
“Lieutenant Mifflin County.
“September 2, 1798”
The children of William and Margaret Stewart were John, Wilson, Sarah, Mary, Margaret, Gracey, Elizabeth, Rachel and Rebecca.
John, the eldest, married Elizabeth, a daughter of David Walker, and settled on the home-farm and died April 13, 1831, aged sixty years and ten months. He was a justice of the peace from 1821. His son David succeeded to the farm and died in September, 1836 aged thirty years, the last of the name. The property now belongs to J. Stewart Lukens, a descendant of William Stewart and grandson of Henry and Gracey (Stewart) Lukens. The children of John Stewart were Anna (Mrs. Abraham Lukens); Elizabeth died unmarried; David married Elizabeth McAlister; William died March, 1832; Wilson died May, 1814; Eliza married Dr. Cyrus McCurdy; Mary became the wife of Dr. John Irvin. Of the other children of William and Margaret Stewart, Sarah married Abraham Deen; Mary became Mrs. Noble Crawford; Margaret married George Brown; Gracey married Henry Lukens; Elizabeth married Isaac Cook; Jean became the wife of Andrew Thompson, tailor; Rachel, Mrs. John Thompson; and Rebecca, Mrs. Andrew Thompson, whose husband was a farmer.
In the year 1799, Widow Elizabeth Stewart was assessed on a shad fishery, then kept at Black Rock, which was at the Stewart farm, on the river.
The Stewart farm was, in 1756, owned by James Chambers and occupied by Edward Nicholas, his wife and children,--Joseph, Thomas, Catharine and Edward. William Willcox lived on the opposite side of the river. In February, 1756, Shamokin Daniel, with a party of Indians, came up the Juniata and stopped at Hugh Micheltree’s house and killed his wife and young Edward Nicholas, who was staying with her while her husband was away to Carlisle. The Indians then went up the river to the Chambers tract and killed old Edward Nicholas and his wife and took the children and John Willcox, James Armstrong’s wife and two children prisoners. On March 29th, the same year, Hugh Micheltree was taken prisoner. In the fall of that year Samuel Clifford, son of Joseph and Catharine Nicholas, two of the children carried off by Shamokin Daniel’s party at a Tutelo town, forty miles above Tioga (now two miles from Ithaca, N.Y.), a town lately destroyed by Sullivan.
The reader is referred to the third chapter of the General History for an account of the Indian troubles.
James Crampton warranted land on the Juniata River, as the following receipt will show:
“Philadelphia, May 12, 1755.
“Received of James Crampton fifty shillings in part for fifty acres, as to be surveyed to him adjoining other land granted him by warrant of this day on the waters of Juniata, Cumberland County.
“For the Hon. the Proprietors,
“Edmund Physick.”
On the other side of this receipt is the following assignment:
“I hereby assign to David Stout my Right to the lands within mentioned, as a security on his passing his word for me to appear at next Court and enter Special Bail in the action of James Collom.
“Witness my Hand the 22d of December, Anno Dom. 1762.
“James Crampton.
“Felix Donnelly.”
The Donnelly who signed as witness to this paper was killed by the Indians at Big Spring, near Huntingdon, Pa., June 19, 2777. The name of David Stout does not appear in the assessment roll of Fermanagh township, and he probably did not enter as “Special Bail.”
In 1767 Crampton is assessed for one hundred acres of land, ten acres cleared, two horses and one cow. HE remained on the land until his death, in 1788, and in 1789 his heirs are in possession of the property.
Adjoining his land Edward Huff warranted two hundred and fifty-six acres on Delaware Run, October, 1766, which was patented as “Barley-field.”
From 1789 the name disappears from the county; the lands came into possession of the Cooksons, and are now in part owned by Samuel Evans and John Kurtz, and lie about a mile above the Evans mill.
James Micheltree was a warrantee in this township, in 1755, but where is not known; but the farm now owned by Robert Thompson and William G. Thompson was taken up by him on an order of survey, No. 3229, March 22, 1761, and where he lived until his death, in the early part of 1803; he also took up on order of survey a tract March 27, 1767. In his will, made January 3d in that year, he appointed James McLin and David Walker executors of the estate, who sold it, April 1st the same year, to John Thompson, who, on the 6th of March 1817, conveyed it to Andrew Thompson, farmer, who married Rebecca, daughter of William Stewart.
The family of Micheltree became extinct in this section, with the death of the one here mentioned. One Hugh Micheltree was carried off by the Indians March 29, 1756. John is mentioned from 1768 to 1782 as a drover; Samuel in 1770; Joseph in 1792. John Tennis, who purchased in 1761 the land on a part of which Thompsontown is laid, and who sold a part in 1770 to John Kepler, kept one hudred and fifty acres that lay above the old river bridge. He had four sons,--William, Stephen, Anthony and Samuel. William was in the Revolutionary War, and does not appear again. Samuel is mentioned as a freeman in 1776, and as owner of land and stock from 1777 to 1793, when he went West; Anthony, as a freeman from 1785 to 1790, and owner of land and stock from 1793 to 1802, when he sold and went West; Stephen, as a freeman from 1788, owning stock in 1791 and land from 1796. He settled upon the homestead and died there in 1808. John Tennis, now living in Fayette township, eighty-four years of age, is a son of Stephen. When fifteen years of age (1817) he learned the trade of blacksmith of Samuel Belford, then living at what is now Mount Pleasant. He worked at his trade for several years, at Mifflin and Jericho, and in 1833 bought a farm in Walker township, where he lived until 1865, when he moved to Fayette, where he now lives. Of the family of Tennis who now live in Thompsontown, Israel Tennis came to this place in 1841, from Montgomery County. A brother, William, had lived below the town since 1820. The family probably have a common origin, but it is not certainly known. The Tennis lands are now owned by the heirs, William and Robert Thompson.
John Tennis, Sr., purchased one hundred and eighty acres of George Patterson February 4, 1879.
The name of Thomas Jordan appeared in 1766 as the owner of two hundred acres of land which he had warranted in that year, and the land remained unseated for several years, and in 1776 he erected upon it, and upon Delaware Run, a little below the site of the present Evans mill, a grist-mill, which was continued until about 1803. The stones that were used in this old mill are still in use at the mill of Samuel Evans. Soon after the grist-mill was erected a saw-mill was built and a distillery a few years later. In 1791 a road was laid from David Walker’s to Jordan’s mill, and thence down to John Smith’s mill, on Cocolamus Creek, which was farther down, and had been in operation from 1785. In 1794 Thomas Jordan took up on warrants other lands near his mill lands. He became involved financially, and February 10, 1802, his property was sold at sheriff’s sale, and bought in by Elias W. Hale, of Lewistown, as attorney for General Louis Evans, of Montgomery County, who moved at once to the lands and began improvements. The property then consisted of the mill tract of three hundred acres, the grist and saw-mill and two hundred acres in Greenwood township. At that time the distillery was abandoned. In the next year General Evans erected a four-story stone grist-mill between the present mill and the site of the old mill, which was used until 1871, when S. Owen Evans erected the present one. The old saw-mill was nearly half a mile above the present mill, and was abandoned soon after its purchase and a new saw-mill built near the grist-mill, which was rebuilt about 1815 and abandoned about 1845. The present saw-mill was erected by S. Owen Evans in 1857.
An oil-mill was built in 1803, near the old saw-mill up the creek, which was used about thirty years. To it was attached another building in which carding and fulling-machines were placed and operated. About 1820 this was enlarged and the manufacture of woolen goods was begun, which continued until a few years ago. The old log house of Thomas Jordan is still standing, and in 1812 General Evans built the east part of the stone mansion, to which, in 1835, an addition was made. About 1820 General Evans purchased a part of the Cookson lands and other lands which embraced parts of the old Crampton, Evans and Lukens tracts. These lands are now owned by Samuel Owen Evans and the heirs of John Kurtz.
The name of Jordan was quite well known in an early day, and was probably connected with Thomas Jordan, if not his sons. David Jordan, from 1787 to 1798, kept the “old Jordan Tavern, “ later known as the “Seven-Mile tavern,” in the Narrows above Mifflin, where he also, in 1792, established a ferry, and later went to Lewistown, where he died. Robert was a freeman from 1793, and in 1794 owned land. John owned land from 1804, and Nancy from 1820. Francis was a tanner, and sunk a tannery at Mexico, which he continued until 1856.
Thomas Jordan, on April 1, 1777, purchased, on an article of agreement from William Patterson, Esq., forty acres of land on Delaware Run, “with a saw-mill thereon,” which he sold, on an article of agreement, to Joseph Cookson October 12, 1778. The deed to this land was not given until after the death of William Patterson, and was given by his heirs June 19, 1798. Jordan deeded to Cookson the property August 6, 1799.
On the 16th of May, 1776, John Hamilton and Joseph Sellers took out a warrant for one hundred and seventy acres of land on the bank of Cocolamus Creek. The name of Sellers does not again appear in connection with the property, and Hamilton undoubtedly purchased his interest. John Hamilton built on the creek a grist-mill and saw-mill. In July, 1781, a road was laid from John Kepler’s (who then owned a part of the tract of land on which Thompsontown was afterward laid out) to John Hamilton’s mill, and in the next year a road was ordered laid out from Harris’ plantation (now David Dimm’s farm), to Hamilton’s grist-mill. A road soon after was laid out over the ridge from the settlement in and about what is now McAlisterville. John Hamilton was the owner of a large tract of land in what is now Walker township, and in part owned by Hugh Hamilton, his grandson. He moved from “Fermanagh” (the name of his farm) to Harrisburg in 1787, and left his property in this section of country in the care of his son John, who remained on the place. The mill was conducted by him until the death of his father, in 1793, and in 1796 the mill property on Cocolamus Creek was sold by the heirs of Joseph Sellers.
It will be noticed that Joseph Sellers united with John Hamilton in taking out the warrant for the land on the Cocolamus in 1776. It is not known that he was connected with the one who later bought it, but probably was the father of Jacob and Joseph Sellers, two brothers, who, in the year 1793, went to the Cocolamus Creek, in what is now the northwest corner of Monroe township, and purchased a tract of land in two parcels, one in 1793, the other in 1795. On the 15th of January, 1796, Joseph sold all his interest in the land to Jacob Sellers, Jr., and the same year bought of the heirs of John Hamilton one hundred and seventy acres and the grist-mill and the saw-mill. The grist-mill was allowed to run down and was abandoned, although it was the first grist-mill in this part of the county. The land and saw-mill were kept by Joseph Sellers until his death, in 1841, aged seventy-six years. He married Anna, a daughter of Samuel Sharon. Their children were James M., Margaret, Sarah, Mary and Anna. Margaret and Sarah now live at McAlisterville, Anna died there, and Mary became the wife of David Castle and moved to Michigan. The property passed to James M. Sellers, who, April 7, 1853, sold the property to John Landis, who kept it several years, and in addition to the saw-mill established there a foundry, which he ran as long as he retained the property, which later was sold respectively to James M. Sellers, James B. Mode, Abraham Page and, on April 1, 1871, to Robert M. Humphrey, who now owns it and continues the saw-mill.
It is evident that in the early settlement of the county this grist-mill was a central point, as several roads were made leading to it. The Patterson and Jordan mills were also running at the same time.
James Chambers warranted a tract of land on the Juniata River containing three hundred acres, September 8, 1755; and on the 26th of January, 1767, he was granted three hundred and two acres on order of survey No. 2565. The first tract was sold to Henry Cooper in July, 1761, who sold, November 17th, the same year, to William Stewart, who was a permanent settler upon the land until his death, in 1784. The other tract, of three hundred and two acres, in time passed to Judge James Black and was patented as “Black Oak Ridge, “ and sold to General Louis Evans, whose heirs now own it. It lies east by north from the Evans mill. Chambers was killed by the Indians in the early troubles.
John Thomson, or Thompson, as later spelled, from whom the most of the family of that name in this county descend, was one of several brothers who resided in Paxton Valley, and, about 1768 or 1769, came up the Juniata, with his family, and purchased a tract of two hundred acres of land (which had been previously warranted) about two miles from the present borough of Thompsontown. His name is not mentioned in the tax-rolls of Fermanagh township until 1769, when he is assessed on two hundred acres (now owned by Uriah Sherman). Robert, his eldest son, was also assessed on two hundred acres adjoining, and below, at Lockport.
John Thompson married three wives, by whome he had children as follows: Robert, William, Andrew, Thomas and Peter, Susan and Sarah. Susan married David Boles, and settled in Pfoutz Valley. Agnes married --- Black, and settled in Blount County, Tenn. Sarah became the wife of William McAlister, and settled on Cocolamus Creek, where his grandson (John McAlister) now lives. John Thompson died about 1779 (as his name disappears from the tax-rolls at that time), and is buried in the old Thompson grave-yard. A simple stone with the letters “J. T.,” without date, marks his resting-place.
Robert, his eldest son, lived and died on the land he bought in 1769. He married Mary Mitchell, by whom he had children—William, John, James, Robert, Andrew and a daughter, Jane, who married John McAlister, Esq., son of William, of Cocolamus.
Of the sons of Robert (son of John), William, the eldest, after receiving his portion from his father, became unfortunate in his investments, and lived in Thompsontown in his later days and conducted a small farm. John and James settled in Lost Creek Valley, and, about 1803, sold to Michael Bashore, and, April 1st, in that year, bought the James Micheltree tract of James McLin and David Walker, executors, which land was granted on an order of survey, No. 3229, to James Micheltree. John Thompson, with his brother Robert, bought, November 15, 1811, another tract, adjoining, which had been granted to Micheltree on order of survey, March 27, 1767. John Thompson died, January, 1834, aged fifty-eight years. Of his sons were William G., James, Robert M. and John. William G., John and the widow of Robert M. are living on these lands.
James, the son of Robert, after the sale of the property on Lost Creek, bought, with John, the Micheltree property, but soon after sold to Robert, his brother, and went to Ohio.
Robert, son of Robert, purchased part of Andrew Thompson’s (tailor) land, and settled upon it, where he lived and died. Some of his children are now living in Thompsontown.
Andrew, son of Robert (the first), settled on his father’s place and bought other lands adjoining. He was known as Andrew Thompson, farmer. His children all moved West.
Mitchell, the youngest son of Robert, lived and died on part of his fathers’ estate. He married Jane, a daughter of David Allen. Adeline (Mrs. J. Stewart Lukens) is a daughter. Lavinia, a daughter, was the wife of James Cochran, of Liverpool.
Andrew, the son of John Thompson, the ancestor, was a tailor, and settled at Thompsontown, and, about 1803, emigrated to Chillicothe, Ohio.
William Thompson, the second son of John, married Jean, a daughter of George Patterson, of Mexico, and in 1785 purchased the tract on which Thompsontown is located, and died there about 1813.
Thomas and Peter Thompson, the youngest sons of John, inherited the homestead of their father, and February 28, 1807, they purchased eighty-four acres of land of Frederick Keller, which had been patented in two tracts by Isaac Yost,--one named Rivulet Grove, March 30, 1796, the other Green Plains (later called Green Dale), March 29, 1796. They passed, April 6th in that year, to Jacob and Martin Miller, who sold, April 5, 1802, to Michael Bashore, who resided there a year, and, May 16, 1803, sold to Keller. On May 1, 1809, Thomas and Peter Thompson sold it to Andrew Thompson, farmer, and it is now the property of Mrs. Robert M. Thompson.Thomas died a bachelor, and the old farm, which then embraced four hundred and thirty-three acres, passed to Peter. He had children—John, Saml., Silas, Thomas, John, Patterson, Mary, Margaret, Susanna and Ellen, who inherited the estate. It was bought of the heirs by John P. and Samuel Thompson; the latter sold later to John P., and purchased the original Robert Thompson farm, now owned by George Taylor. John P. kept the old home-farm until 1865, when it was bought by Judge Samuel Hepburn, of Carlisle, who, March 4, 1869, sold to Uriah Shuman, the present owner.
Upon this tract John P. Thompson and George Moss, about 1863, erected the “Maria” Furnace, which they continued until the sale of the property to Judge Hepburn, who continued it a year or two and abandoned it about 1869.
Gabriel Fry became a settler in Delaware township in 1773, as on the 22d of May in that year he purchased a tract of land containing two hundred and thirty-five acres, on Delaware Run, which was granted on an order of survey, November 29, 1766, to Esther Patterson, and was sold by her to James Crampton. It was sold by the sheriff, in 1770, to William Petterman, by whom it was conveyed to Fry. He also took out a warrant for fifty acres adjoining, January 5, 1793. He was a blacksmith, and had a smith-shop, as in 1782 a road was ordered by the court of Cumberland County to be laid out from John Harris’ plantation (now Mifflintown), past Gabriel Fry’s smith-shop (now David Dumm’s, in Kurtz Valley), to John Hamilton’s grist-mill (now Robert Humphrey’s saw-mill). This tract Gabriel Fry sold, January 5, 1793, to Isaac Thompson, with a distillery, but Fry still resided in the vicinity on other lands. He died about 1826.
Samuel Fry, a brother of Gabriel Fry, came to the township about the same time. Samuel settled here and in 1775 purchased a tract of one hundred and ten acres of land, which David Wilson warranted November 30, 1774. He brought his family to the farm the next year, 1776, when Jonathan was one year old. The land was on Cocolamus Creek, a short distance above the Hamilton mill (now Humphrey’s). Samuel Fry had sons—Benjamin, Gabriel, Enoch, Jonathan, Samuel, John and James; the three youngest sons emigrated West. Benjamin lived to maturity and died single upon the farm. Gabriel settled on a farm now owned by John Fry, son of Jonathan Fry, Jr. Enoch settled south of the homestead, near Goodwill, where his son George now resides. Jonathan settled on the homestead, where he died April, 1847, aged seventy-two years. His son Jonathan resides on the homestead.
Gabriel, Enoch and Jonathan each married a daughter of Benjamin Dearduff, who was an early settler on the farm now owned by Daniel Kepner.
Joseph Cookson first appears in tax-rolls in 1778, assessed on three hundred acres of land, one hundred of which he warranted, and which was located near Thomas Jordan. The next year he was assessed on one thousand one hundred, and 1781 on five hundred; Daniel, on one hundred, and Thomas and William on stock. In 1785 Joseph had seven hundred and eighty-eight acres; William and David, each, three hundred, and in 1789 Joseph six hundred and eighty-eight, and William six hundred. From 1783 to 1805 Joseph was running a distillery. William appears assessed on a grist-mill from 1790 to 1803, and his heirs from 1811.
The Joseph Cookson lands, of three hundred acres, lying on Delaware Run, and the Thomas Jordan land (now S. O. Evans’) were sold by Joseph Cookson to his son, Charles, with a portion of other lands, about 1810. He built what is known as the White House, and lived there until his death. He sold, soon after his purchase, two hundred and fifty acres of the tract near the run to John Kurtz, the ancestor of the family now in the Kurtz Valley, which tract he divided among his three sons, Samuel, Abraham and John. Samuel’s descendants moved to the West. Abraham purchased the interest of John, who settled near on other property. The descendants of the brothers are still living in the valley.
A tract of land, containing forty-six acres, lying east of the Hunter Tennis tract, was warranted to John Bowne, April 4, 1766, on which one Yakes resided, set out an orchard and built a saw-mill. The race, upon the building of the Pennsylvania Canal, in 1829, was made a feeder. The land now belongs to the heirs of William Thompson.
Richard Dunn, before 1798, settled on land later, in part, owned by David Westfall. He died in 1820. His son, James, was a teacher, and later, settled in the same locality, and in 1816 bought a farm (now William Rannels’) in Fayette township, where he died in 1868. William Dunn, Esq., of McAlisterville, is a son.
The land on which the Guyers first settled was bought by Henry Guyer, April 13, 1794. A part of it was warranted by Richard Bell and William Vance. The latter sold to Bell. The other part was granted, on an order of survey No. 2316, to Joseph Trotter, January 5, 1767. He deeded it, February 12, 1768, to Samuel Wallace. It was sold to Christian Stutzman, who, January 1, 1810, sold to John Stutzman. He, June 8, 1829, sold to Abraham Guyer, and April 13, 1838, it passed to Henry Guyer. On March 10, 1827, Henry Guyer sold the first-mentioned tract to Abraham Guyer.
Peter Evey was a freeman in 1806, and in 1809 purchased a tract of land on Cocolamus Creek, on which he built a saw-mill, which he continued many years; it is now abandoned. About 1816, Christian Gingrich built a saw-mill about two and half miles north of Thompsontown, which also was run many years.
The strip of land that was attached to Fermanagh township in 1791 now belongs to Walker and Delaware, and an account of a few of the settlers living on that side has been obtained. In the year 1775, William McMeen was assessed on fifty acres, ten of which are cleared, and later with one hundred acres. On the 4th of September, 1791, he sold to George Wood one hundred and one acres, “on which he then lived, and opposite James Micheltree,” who then lived below Thompsontown, on the land now owned by Mrs. Robert Thompson and William G. Thompson, on which Durward Station is located. William Willcox, prior to 1768, made an improvement which, August 13th of that year, he sold to William Stewart, which is described as here given,--
“A certain improvement, being on the south side of Juniata River, opposite where the, the said William Stewart, now liveth. Beginning at a Run of water, called the Deep Run, westward of the improvement and from thence down the Juniata to a run opposite the Delaware Run.”
The land at the upper end of this strip that belongs to Delaware township, containing four hundred and forty-four acres, now known as the Bradford Fruit-Farm, was a part of several tracts, warranted as follows: James Wright, December 28, 1770; Daniel Neef, December 16, 1773 and the application of William McCrackin, November 1, 1792. The title to this property became vested in Michael Eckert, who died in 1802. His heirs sold it to Henry Lukens, son of Abram and grandson of John Lukens. He married Gracey, a daughter of William Stewart, by whom he had children as follows: Abraham, John, Elizabeth, Sarah, Jane, Margaret, Mary, William and Rachel (twins). Abraham settled on the Tennis farm and died there; J. Stewart Lukens is a son. Margaret became the wife of Robert McCracken; Mary, of Robert Thompson, tanner; and Rachel, of Levi Myers.
Henry Lukens lived on this tract until his death, when it was sold to Robert Thompson, who, September 4, 1852, sold it to William and Theodore S. Thompson, from whom it passed to others. In 1878 Frederick Miller sold it to Hezekiah Bradford, who set many acres out in fruit of various kinds.
SCHOOLS.—One of the first school-houses in the township was the one built at what is now Humphrey’s mill, then Joseph Sellers’. How long it had been built before the agreement here given was made is not known. The John Keller here mentioned was a son of Frederick Keller, who bought, in 1803, part of the land Mr. Robert M. Thompson now owns, and later settled near Pine Swamp, now in Monroe township, where he died. Jacob, the brother of John, taught school near this place in 1820.
An article of agreement was made December 15, 1818, between John Keller, schoolmaster, of Greenwood township, and the subscribers, by which Keller was to teach a school in the school-house, on the premises of Joseph Sellers, for the term of three months, beginning on Monday, the 28th of December, “which school shall be taught in spelling, reading, writing and arithmetic, in English.” The “subscribers agree to make up 20 scholars, and give liberty for an open school, and keep the school-house in good state, with a sufficiently of fire-wood at the Door, and find for the said master $1.50 per scholar, good and lawful money, at the Expiration of the school. Joseph Sellers, 4; William Stool, 3; John Jones, 1; Peter Borris, 2; Robert Patton, 1; Aquilla Burchfield, 3; George Miller, ---.”
A school-house, in 1817, was on the farm of Nathan Van Horn, and was torn down about 1825, and another was built near where John West now lives, which was torn down about 1870.
In 1820 a school was kept in a blacksmith-shop on the farm now Jonathan Keiser’s.
About the same time a school was kept by a Mrs. McLaughlin.
Mrs. Hannah Caveny, about 1825, taught in a small house on the road from Thompsontown to Good-will.
Peter Dawson, William P. Law and Simon Skuyler were early teachers.
The school law was accepted by the township in 1838, and General Louis Evans was the president of the board of directors, and George Worley secretary. There was, in the township, bitter opposition to the law, but it was carried and the township was districted with school-houses at the locations here mentioned: At Cross-Roads, North East (formerly Cameron’s), Delaware Hill and Smith’s. Thompsontown was made a joint district with part of Greenwood township, Perry County.
In 1868 the school-houses of the township and their value was as follows: Delaware Hill, fifty dollars; Smith, fifty dollars; Cross-Roads, fifty dollars; Northeast, fifty dollars; Lock, fifty dollars; Salem, seven hundred and fifty dollars; Good-will seven hundred and fifty dollars; with the addition of Juniata School-house, which stands near Thompsontown, the locations are the same. New houses have been built since that time in several of the districts. The number of pupils in attendance at the schools is three hundred and thirty-seven.
CHURCHES.—The Whiteland United Christian Church was built near Robert Humphrey’s mill in 1878, and dedicated May 18, 1879. The dedicatory sermon was preached by the Rev. H. Eberly.
The Delaware (Mennonite) Meeting-House was erected, of brick, about 1870, and is located a short distance from East Salem. It is under the care of the Rev. Jacob Graybill.
EAST SALEM.
This hamlet is built on the Guyer lands. Samuel M. Kurtz, April 4, 1844, purchased a few acres of land of Henry Guyer, and built thereon a house, where his widow now lives. A road was laid out from Brown’s Mills to Thompsontown, about 1825, which passed through the land on which the settlement was made.
In 1848, John Caveny opened a store in the basement of the house in which Adam Makel now lives. In 1850, John Kurtz erected a two-story building, in which, about 1870, Curtiss G. Winey began keeping a store, and a little later Samuel Schlegel opened a store. A post-office was established a number of years ago, of which C. G. Winey is now the postmaster.
The Methodist and United Brethren congretations have churches at this place. They are both under care of a circuit and have not local ministers.
Good-will (or Goodville) is a small cluster of houses lying northeast of Thompsontown, and also contains a school-house and a cabinet-shop.
The graphics on this website are not in the public domain.
© 2013 by Michael Milliken
|
|
