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Borough of Mifflintown
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 701-727
CHAPTER VI.
BOROUGH OF MIFFLINTOWN
SETTLEMENT OF THE LOCALITY.—The borough of Mifflintown lies on the east bank of the Juniata River, forty-nine miles from Harrisburg and on the line of the Pennsylvania Railroad. The land on which it was laid out was taken out on a warrant, bearing date September 8, 1755, by Alexander Lafferty. It was surveyed by John Armstrong, deputy surveyor, and contained 275 ½ acres, with six per cent. allowance. It was re-surveyed and returned to the Land-Office by William Maclay, deputy surveyor, April 2, 1766, and was named in the return “Content”. At this time the lands adjoining were owned by Francis West on the South, William Curran and William McCoy on the east, and John Reed on the north, and the tract was bounded by the Juniata River on the west.
The island in the river was warranted by Lafferty, and contained ninety-nine acres when patented by William Maclay, November 15, 1772. It passed to John Harris in 1774 with the purchase of the main land, and was left by him to his son William, and was sold by James Harris, executor, to William Bell, May 15, 1813. It is not embraced in the original limits of Fermanagh township and it is evident that it originally belonged to Milford. No information is obtained as to when it became a part of Fermanagh, but within the memory of the oldest persons now living the residents of the island have always voted in Fermanagh.
That Alexander Lafferty was a resident upon his land is shown by the fact that on the 25th of March, 1763, he was elected a viewer of ferries of Fermanagh township. It is evident that at this time there were ferries on the river, and probably John McClelland, who owned a large tract of land on the west bank of the Juniata River, and who, it is known, was in possession of a ferry a few years later, was running one at this time.
On the 31st of January, 1767, Lafferty sold the tract to John Cox, who, on the 7th of March following, sold it to William Maclay. It was confirmed to him on the 10th of the month and released of all quit-rents by the payment of forty-two pounds. William Maclay was the deputy surveyor acting in this section, and in 1767 was assessed on three hundred acres, with twenty acres cleared and one hundred acres unseated land. In 1768 he is mentioned as having two hundred and seventy-five acres and one horse, and in 1879, the land, a horse, a cow and a servant. It has been repeatedly stated that William Maclay never lived on this land, but resided in the Buffalo Valley, where his later years were passed; but this entry proves that he was a resident on the Harris plantation. His name disappears from the roll in 1771. He was appointed a justice of the peace of Fermanagh township on May 21, 1770, and after his settlement in what is now Union County was United States Senator.
This tract of land he retained until the 2d of September, 1774, when he sold it to John Harris for twelve hundred pounds. John Harris was a native of Donegal, Ireland, where he was born in 1723, and, with his wife Jean and brother James (older), came to this country. Upon this tract a log house had been built on the lot on the south side of the ravine, at the intersection of Cedar Spring road and Water Street. In time, additions were made by the erection of two others adjoining, making a large log house.
In 1775 the Rev. Philip Fithian, traveling through this region of country, came down the Licking Creek Valley and crossed the ford opposite John Harris’ place, at whose house he stopped. He describes it as being elegant and the windows in the parlor as containing each twenty-four large lights of glass.
Soon after the settlement of John Harris in this county he began to take a prominent part in its affairs, and was at a meeting of the freeholders at Carlisle, July 12, 1774, when they were gathered to express their sympathy for Boston, which city Great Britain was then oppressing with the infamous stamp-tax. Resolutions were passed, and John Harris was one of thirteen delegates elected to carry out the objects of the resolution. On the 18th of June, 1775, he, with Hugh McCormick and six others, as deputies, represented Cumberland County at the Provincial Conference, which resolved that a convention be called for the express purpose of forming a new government. The election for delegates was held July 8, 1776, and eight men were elected from Cumberland County, and the name of John Harris headed the list. He was chosen sub-lieutenant of the county March 12, 1777, and on November 9th following, was elected as representative in the Assembly. On February 6, 1779, he was commissioned a justice of the peace, which position he held until his death, in 1794. He was also a member of the Assembly March 1, 1780, when the act was passed for the gradual abolition of slavery in this State.
When the erection of Mifflin County was agitated, in 1788, meetings of inhabitants were held and delegates were appointed who agreed to abide by the decisions of three disinterested persons upon whom they agreed. These persons selected the plantation of John Harris as the proposed county-seat. It did not meet with the approval of the inhabitants above the Narrows, and measures were taken by them to defeat its accomplishment, in which they succeeded by the act of September, 1789. Before the final location of a county-seat John Harris, in 1790, laid out a town upon his plantation and named it Mifflintown, in honor of Governor Thomas Mifflin. The public square now occupied by the court-house in Mifflintown was set apart by him for public use. The idea of the location of the county-seat of Mifflin County at the place was not given up until after 1800.
John Harris died February 24, 1794, about seventy-one years of age, leaving his wife Jean, who survived him until 1807, when she died, aged eighty-three years. They are buried in the old grave-yard which he had donated to the town.
John Harris was twice married – first, to Jane Poer, who died childless, and, second, to Jane Harris, a cousin, by whom he had children named Jane, James, William, Grizelle, Margaret and Ann. Jane, the eldest, married James Patterson, son of Capt. James Patterson, who settled at Mexico in 1755.
James, the eldest son, was one of the earliest settlers in Bellefonte. His daughter married the Rev. James Linn, and the family are prominent in that section of the county. James Harris was the administrator of his father’s estate and managed the sale of the lands about 1809. William Harris was a surveyor, and assisted his Uncle James, also a surveyor. Their names are both found on early surveys. He died in 1807, aged forty-eight years.
Grizelle, one of the elder daughters of Mr. Harris, became the wife of James Knox, who settled in the new town and lived at the homestead. He built a log store on the site of the brick house now owned by Thomas Parker, which he built a short time before his death, which occurred in 1819, at the age of fifty-six years. His wife survived him until 1831. They had two sons—Thomas, who moved to Tennessee and became a lawyer, and John, who was a physician, and settled and died in Hogetown, Cumberland County. They had three daughters—Jane, Maria and Hannah. Jane became the wife of Joseph Cummings, and settled in Mifflintown until about 1834, when they moved to Sydney, Ohio, where Mrs. Cummings still resides. Maria and Hannah also moved to that place.
Margaretta, also a daughter of John Harris, married John Stewart, of Tuscarora Valley, where they settled.
Ann, a daughter of John Harris, became the wife of Samuel Bryson. He came from Franklin County, where he was a merchant. He was elected a lieutenant March 20, 1777, and served in the Second Regiment Pennsylvania Line, under Colonel Hampton, and was a member of the Society of the Cincinnati. He married Ann Harris, moved to this place and opened a store in a small log house about three-quarters of a mile above the residence of John Harris—about where the canal lock-house now stands. Later he built the stone house in the village now owned by George Smith, and opened a store in a log building on the present site of Sandoe’s block. He also owned a farm and distillery on Lost Creek, about four miles from Mifflintown, now owned by John Sieber and Abram Books.
Bryson was appointed a county lieutenant, and as such refused to commission two colonels elected by the regiments. It was this action that caused the disturbance when he was appointed associate judge of Mifflin, in 1791. The people were much incensed, and marched to Lewistown, determined to force him to resign, which effort, however, did not succeed. He died December 19, 1799, aged forty-eight years. His children were John, James, Samuel, Sarah, Jane and Mary. John became a physician, practiced in Mifflin for a time, and settled in Pittsburgh, where he died. James lived in Mifflintown, and was a farmer. Samuel studied divinity, and died young. Sarah became the wife of William Bell, sho was a native of Tuscarora Valley, and in 1804 opened a store at Henderson’s (Old Port Royal). In 1807 he came to Mifflintown and built a log store on the corner of Main and Bridge Streets, where Belford Block now is. He was sheriff of Mifflin County from 1806 to 1809, after which he purchased the island and settled upon it, and died there September 1, 1821, aged forty-six years. His wife died in 1839. Their children were Jane (Mrs. Dr. John Irwin), William Bell, both of Mifflintown, and argarette (Mrs. J. D. Sharon), of Springfield, Ohio.
The old Harris homestead was occupied many years, and in 1829 by David Suloff. It later went to ruin, and in 1866 was torn down by Jacob Suloff.
After the death of Mr. Harris, in 1794, the estate was divided. The homestead and west part of the farm passed to James Knox, the east part to James Harris, who was executor of his father’s estate. He sold two hundred and fifteen acres of the east part of the tract, on the 16th of August, 1806, to James Burd, and soon after moved to Bellefonte. One hundred and ninety-four acres of this tract passed from James Burd to his sons, Edward and Allen, April 17, 1826. In 1841 it passed to Jonas Kauffman, Andrew Parker and Dr. Philo Hamlin. In 1809 several lots of the village plat were sold and built upon.
About 1790, Ezra Doty, a young physician, a native of Sharon, Conn., made a tour through Pennsylvania. Stopping over-night at this place—where then lived Jno. Harris, Saml. Bryson, James Knox and others—he, being a physician, was called upon to attend some one in the neighborhood who was taken suddenly ill. His labors were successfully rewarded by the recovery of his patient. He was invited to remain in the settlement, and did so, and finally made it his home.
In 1810 Mrs. Cottle kept the Yellow House, and in 1813 it was occupied by Joseph Fetterman, under whose occupancy it was destroyed by fire, and his daughter and step-daughter were burned to death.
The Rev. John Hutcheson, who was called as pastor of Mifflintown and Lost Creek Presbyterian Church in the summer of 1805, moved to Mifflintown, and lived in the house on Main Street, still standing. He began teaching the first year of his residence. He continued his classical teaching till about 1837.
In the year 1795 Thomas Gallagher erected a stone bridge across the ravine on Front Street, the abutments of which were partly standing. He recited in 1802, before the grand jury of Mifflin County, that in that year he undertook to build the bridge at Mifflintown; that a subscription was taken up, and on completion of the bridge, he found, by reason of the insolvency of some and the moving away of other subscribers, that the amount collected would not reach the cost by one hundred dollars, and asked the court to relieve him. The grand jury, after considering the case, recommende the court to grant the amount, which was done.
In 1812 Fielding Alford and John Murphy advertised that they had established a boot and shoe-factory at the upper end of this bridge. Close & Ziegler were conducting business in the village at this time; James Knox had a store on the Thomas Parker lot; Benjamin Law came to the village about 1799, and he also began a store on the site of Mr. Harley’s present store, which he continued for forty years. In 1815 J. & D. W. Aitkens were keeping a store below “Patton’s tavern,” and kept for several years after. Two stone residences were erected on what is now Main Street (Second) very early in the history of the town. One was occupied by James Kinkaid, watch-maker, and is still standing; the other by John Johnston, at the south end of the village. The latter was destroyed by fire years ago.
In the winter of 1794 Jacob Wright, a tanner of Chambersburg, came to Mifflintown, and bought a town lot at the south end of Main Street, on the run. He contracted with a man living here to put up for him on the lot a log house, and returned to his home; and in the spring of the year came to the place with his wife and son John, then two or three years old, and moved into the new house, and at once opened a tan-yard, which he enlarged from time to time, and did an extensive business. About 1820 he transferred the business to his son John, who continued it until about 1860, when it was abandoned. Jacob Wright died in 1841, aged seventy-six years. He left a daughter Christina, who became the wife of Robert C. Gallagher, who, about 1824, opened a store on the corner of Main and Bridge Streets, and a warehouse later on the canal. Not far from 1840, Samuel Homan assumed the store business; the property remained in the hands of Gallagher until sold to Joseph Belford, who built the present Belford Block. Catharine, another daughter of Jacob Wright, became the wife of Jacob Sigler, who for many years kept a tavern in the place.
Jacob Wright, son of George Wright, was born at Chambersburg, Franklin County, Pa., and died at Mifflintown March 8, 1840, aged seventy-six years. His wife, Christine, was the daughter of Henry Humberger, a native of Germany, who came to Chambersburg with his mother and other children when young. She died in 1813, aged forty years. In 1792 Jacob Wright came to Mifflintown and built a log house, and the next year removed his family, consisting of his wife and only child, John. He very soon thereafter erected a tannery on a little run or creek at the east end of the place, which he enlarged as business increased, and was therefore not only a pioneer, but one of the first to establish a manufacturing interest at Mifflintown. He assisted in erecting the first Lutheran Church, and both himself and wife were zealously identified with that church until their death. Their children are as follows: John, subject of this sketch; Susan, died at the age of forty-nine years in 1844; Catherine, wife of Jacob Zeigler, and early hotel-keeper of Mifflintown; and Sevilla Christine, born October 6, 1799, widow of the late Robert C. Gallaher, a merchant of Mifflintown, who died April 1, 1872, aged seventy-five years. Mrs. Gallaher was living in 1885, and furnished many of the facts narrated in this sketch.
John Wright was born March 3, 1792, in Strasburg, Pa. and died June 6, 1878, at Mifflintown, at which latter place he spent his entire life except one year. He had no opportunity for an education from books, and only obtained six months’ schooling during his boyhood. He, however, acquired a practical education, and early in life learned, through necessity, self-reliance, shich, with his industrious habits and judicious management, in after years, gave him a place among the thorough-going business men of that county. His purpose in life seemed to be to succeed in every undertaking, to fulfill the full duties of the citizen, and through the church, of which he was a life-long member, to firmly establish and propagate the principles of Christianity. His interest in every enterprise calculated to advance the welfare of Mifflintown and the surrounding county was noticeable, and he probably did as much as any other man in contributing to build up the place and give it its present thrifty prospects. He avoided, rather than sought, political preferment, was honorable in his business relations, sociable, genial and esteemed by all who knew him. At the age of eighteen he took charge of his father’s tannery and other business, in Mifflintown, which he carried on for many years, was engaged in business operations of various kinds, and became the owner of several large and valuable farms in the vicinity. By his first wife, Polly Leonard, he had one daughter living in 1885—Elizabeth, wife of Jackson McGruder, of Mifflintown. By his second wife, Elizabeth Maxwell, he had children, viz.: Rev. Jacob H. Wright, a Lutheran minister of Elderton, Pa., who was educated at Jefferson College and the Theological Seminary at Gettysburg; Margaret, died at the age of nineteen; Ellen S., wife of Edward L. Caum, of Harrisburg, died April 20, 1885; and Mary Emma, wife of Thomas Hildebrand, of Harper, Iowa, By his third wife, Elizabeth T. Shellenberger, born in Marietta, Pa., and died in Mifflintown, September, 1863, aged forty-two years, he had children, viz.: Clara I., wife of Joseph Martin, of Mifflintown; John C., a civil engineer, educated at Lafayette College and Cornell University, now a resident of Greenview, Ill.; James C., educated at Lafayette College, a lumber merchant at Curwinsville, Pa.; Blanche of Mifflintown, and Augustus S. Wright, of Patterson, Pa.
A tannery was started by Amos Doty, brother of Dr. Doty, about 1809 or 1810, near the bed of the canal, which in 1817 was operated by William Doty, who continued it until about 1830, when it was abandoned. In 1817, David Elder, of Path Valley, came to Mifflintown and started a tannery below the Doty tannery, which he continued until 1836, when his son, Noah Elder, now living in Lewistown, took its management and continued until about 1865, when he sold it to Cheney Chamberlain, who after a few years abandoned it.
GROWTH OF THE TOWN – INCORPORATION. – The town grew slowly until the erection of Juniata County. A slight impulse was given to it by the opening of the canal, in 1829. The erection of the county and the incorporation of the village gave new life to the place, and from that time it grew to its present importance.
Soon after the erection of the county, preliminary meetings were held to carry forward movements that made Mifflintown the leading place in the county. December 19, 1832, the citizens met at the stone school-house, on the lot now owned by Mrs. Benjamin Witmer, to consider the propriety of incorporating the town. The courhouse was building in 1832. The jail was erected in 1833, and in that year the Mansion House (now the National) was built. William Henderson built a warehouse on the canal in 1832. The bridge had been completed a year or two previous.
In 1833 S. & M. W. Abraham opened a dry-goods store in a log house on the site of Dr. Banks’ store. Joseph Cummings kept a store on the corner of Front and Bridge Streets, formerly kept by James Knox. Amos Gustine had a store in a log house, where Hinkel’s store now is, on Main Street. Robert C. Gallagher, who formerly kept on Front Street, was then on the corner of Main and Bridge. The hotels were kept by John F. Saeger, ----Roberts and Abraham Selheimer, and in this year Joseph Cummings opened the Mansion House. The physicians were Dr. Philo Hamlin, Dr. James Frow, Dr. David Crawford and Dr. William Elder.
The Juniata Free Press and Juniata Telegraph were established a year previous and were in good circulation.
The tanneries of John Wright and James Elder were in full operation. In April, 1835, Fertig & McLaughlin began the manufacture of hats the second door south of the stage-office.
A line of stages had been running through Mifflintown from 1808, first by the Juniata Stage Company and later by Calder & Wilson. Upon the completion of the canal, in 1829-30, a line of daily packets was put on from Columbia to Hollidaysburg, under the charge of Calder & Wilson. These packets ran until superseded by the railway service, in 1849.
The borough of Mifflintown was incorporated by act of Assembly, approved by Governor George Wolf, March 6, 1833. The first public action on the part of the citizens to that end was at a public meeting held at the stone school-house, on the evening of December 19, 1832. The action taken at this meeting resulted in a petition, which was signed and sent to the Legislature. As provided in the charter, an election was held for officers, and the officers-elect met at the house of Joseph Cummings, Esq., in the borough of Mifflintown, on the 18th of March, 1833, and were duly sworn into office as follows: James Frow, chief burgess; David Elder, assistant burgess; Joseph Cummings, Amos Gustine, Robert C. Gallagher, Andrew Parker, James Mathers, Town Council; Samuel Wright, constable.
The following are the names of the burgesses who have served the borough from that time to the present:
1834 James Butler
1835 J. W. Aitken
1836 Andrew Parker
1837 Tobias Kreider
1838 Dr. Jacob Myers
1839 James B. Kinkead
1840 Joseph Boggs
1841 Andrew Parker
1842 Caleb Parker
1843 J. W. Aitken
1844 Caleb Parker
1845 George Jacobs
1846 Edmund S. Doty
1847 George Jacobs
1848 A. K. McClure
1849 J. P. Thompson
1850 Caleb Parker
1851 George Jacobs
1852 Caleb Parker
1853 R. C. Gallagher
1854 J. W. Aitken
1855 Alexander Harris
1856 Tobias Kreider
1857 W. E. Bowers
1858 Selim Thomas
1859 B. F. Kepner
1860 Jonathan McCoy
1861 James Kirk
1862 James Kirk
1863 --- ---
1864 A. B. Bonsall
1865 --- ---
1866 --- ---
1867 A. G. Bonsall
1868 --- ---
1869 S. H. Showers
1870 R. P. McWilliams
1871 Jacob Suloff
1872 Jacob Will
1873 Tobias Anker
1874 Dr. Lucian Banks
1875 George Jacobs
1876 George Reynolds
1877 Jeremiah Lyons
1878 Jacob Suloff
1879 Wilbur McCahan
1880 James Robison
1881 E. S. Doty, Jr.
1882 Geo. W. Smith
1883 Geo. W. Smith
1884 D. B. Doty
1885 Ezra D. Parker
The present officers of the borough of Mifflintown are: Burgess, Ezra D. Parker; Town Council, C. F. Henkel, J. S. Robison, S. S. Wilson, E. S. Parker, A. J. Patterson and W. T. Snyder.
ROADS, FERRIES AND BRIDGES.—The first mention made of a road from what is now Mifflintown was in the year 1782, when a road was ordered laid out from John Harris’ plantation on the Juniata to Gabriel Fry’s smith-shop and to Hamilton’s mill. This mill was on Delaware Run, now in Delaware township, and was owned by John Hamilton and later by Joseph Sellers; the site is now owned by Robert M. Humphrey, of Delaware township.
At the January term of court, 1783, a road was ordered laid out from the fording-place at Mifflintown, seven miles and ninety perches in length, to intersect the road leading to Northumberland by Hugh McAlister’s at the side of the Widow Mitchell’s plantation. This road was laid out in the fall of 1795 and is described in the record as starting at Mifflintown, opposite John McClelland’s ferry. The village of Mifflinburg had been laid out some time previous. In 1790 lots in Mifflinburg were assessed to John Fright, Alexander and Samuel Jackson and John McClure, and McClelland’s ferry was there and fording only is mentioned at Mifflintown in 1793. This town, however, possessed superior advantages or more energy, and John McClelland, as a matter of business, thought it advisable to move his ferry to connect with the new road then being laid out to Mifflintown. The ferry was first operated by John McClelland and by his son, John, and in 1796 by Joseph McClelland and William Harris, who obtained, March 17th in that year, an act of incorporation for a ferry over the Juniata “on the main road leading from Sunbury to Path Valley.” The ferry and a farm of one hundred and forty-nine acres passed to Noah Abraham about 1800, who ran it until his death, about 1806, when Samuel Metlin rented it and operated it for nine years, James Love succeeded and continued until 1821, when John Robinson, now living in Patterson, leased it and held the lease until the bridge was finished, in 1811. John Lytle ran it under Robinson’s lease from the fall of 1828. The old ferry-house is still standing on the west bank. The route crossed the river to the Big Spring on the Harris property. The ferry and its privileges were absorbed in the charter of the bridge over the river and the farm was later sold to William Patterson, after whom the borough of Patterson is named.
In the year 1822, John Love operated a ferry below the old ferry landing at Joseph Cummings’ landing, below the mouth of the run. It was abandoned in 1823.
The act of incorporation for the turnpike from Harrisburg to Lewistown was passed March 4, 1807. The corporators resident in Mifflin County were David Davidson, William Thompson, Dr. Ezra Doty and James Knox (below the Narrows), John Brown, George McClelland, John Norris and John Bratton (above the Narrows). The turnpike was not completed through Mifflintown until 1821.
The Mifflin bridge, [by William M. Allison, Jr.] the first structure of the kind erected over the Juniata, has a history of such peculiar interest to the people of this county that it is fitting to preserve it as a lasting monument of the energy and enterprise of our oldest settlers. At the time of the inception of the scheme Patterson had not yet been evolved into existence, at the present site consisting of what was then known as the “farm,” owned by Miss Polly and Sallie Abrams. The only buildings thereon erected were the farm-house, a log house and a barn situated near the old North mansion. The canal had not yet been built and the railroad and telegraph had not even been dreamed of. The mode of passage over the river was by ferries, of which John Robison operated one near the present site of the bridge and John Love the other, which terminated on this side, where the spring runs into the river below the waste-weir.
After considerable discussion throughout the county a bill incorporating the company was prepared, and passed the Legislature March 5, 1828. The following commissioners were then appointed to receive subscriptions of stock: Jacob Wright, Benjamin Low, Joseph Cummins, Benjamin Kepner, John Beale, Stewart Turbett and Daniel Christy. The stock was taken with what was then considered great alacrity, and on July 7th of the same year the company was granted a charter.
There was great diversity of opinion as to the proper location of the bridge, some favoring the foot of Market (now Bridge) Street, while others contended for Orange Street. Measurements were taken at both places, and it was found that the river was four hundred and ninety-five feet at the foot of Market Street, while the distance at the foot of Orange Street to the island was two hundred and sixty-four feet and from the island to the west shore three hundred and eight feet, a total of five hundred and seventy-two feet. The excess was quite an item in those days, and the present site secured the preference on the ground of economy. In the great overflow of 1810, familiarly called the “pumpkin flood,” the water rose twenty-eight feet and eleven inches above the low-water mark; hence the height of the bridge was fixed at twenty-eight feet above the same mark. The original intention was to build the bridge with two abutments, two piers and three arches (or spans), and the contract was thus let to Jacob Bishop, of Carlisle, for nine thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars. Later the board of managers changed their intention, put the abutments farther back from the water line and there extended the length of the bridge to five hundred and ninety-one feet, which necessitated the construction of another pier and span, increasing the original cost to thirteen thousand eight hundred and fifty dollars. On August 7, 1830, the bridge was viewed by a committee of the managers and rejected on the ground of imperfect construction. After being strengthened by the contractor it was finally accepted on November 2d and thrown open to the public six days later.
The par value of the shares of stock was twenty-five dollars, and within a year after the completion of the bridge only four hundred and fifty-six shares had been disposed of. As fast as portions of the work were viewed and approved by the managers, payments were made to Mr. Bishop; but the money came in so slowly that at the completion of his contract the company was considerably indebted to him. Mr. Bishop took in payment six hundred dollars worth of stock, one thousand dollars in cash, two notes for five hundred dollars each (running six and twelve months respectively) and a promise to pay the balance due in eighteen months. So hampered were the managers that it was found necessary to borrow five hundred dollars in order to make the cash payment, and a year and a half later to borrow six hundred dollars more, for which sum Mr. Bishop relinquished his claim.
A large number of the stockholders neglected to pay up when their subscriptions were due, and the managers were frequently harassed by lack of funds and sometimes greatly discouraged.
The company could come to no agreement with the commissioners and engineers of the projected canal, relative to a bridge across that stream, and hence were obliged to further increase their stock and construct a span across to the main land themselves.
The first misfortune to come to the bridge was in the winter of 1831-32, when ice damaged the bridge to the extent of four hundred dollars. Early in February, 1840, the third and fourth spans were carried away, and were reconstructed at a cost of forty-three hundred dollars, and were in use early in November. On the 8th and 9th of October, 1847, a heavy flood in the Juniata swept away the bridge at McVeytown, and on Friday night, the 8th, the Port Royal bridge was swept off, and on the morning of Saturday, the 9th, the first span of the Mifflintown bridge was swept away and the second span seriously injured. The company at once rebuilt the arch, but a second misfortune was precipitated upon them by the destruction of the new span while the trestle-work was still under it. After much difficulty twelve hundred dollars was borrowed by the managers, and Messrs. Thornburg & Kennedy, contractors, finished the job in a couple of months. The debt was gradually paid off, and for over thirty years the company has declared regular dividends. The last of the original piers and the last of the original spans were carried away by the flood of October 8 and 9, 1847. Both had been frequently repaired, and it was thought that not more than fifty dollars worth of the timbers put in in 1828 remained in the bridge at the time of this disaster.
No material damage was done to the bridge from that time until Friday, February 11, 1881, when, by reason of continuous rain for thirty-six hours and melting weather, the snow that for nearly three months had lain on the hills in considerable depth, was speedily melted, and from the streams rapidly flowed to the Juniata, whose surface was covered with thick ice, which finally yielded to the pressure and a blockade was formed above the dam, which reached the bridge about eleven o’clock in the forenoon and continued until six in the evening.
All of this came down on the west side of Bell’s Island, that on the east side being held back by the first pier, forming an immense gorge above, which threw to the right the current and its buden. Between twelve and one o’clock the ice breakers on the second pier showed signs of injury, and at 2:47 P.M. thre was a crash and the second and third spans were wrenched loose at either end and fell upon the ice. They floated down the river and reached Mexico about five o’clock, and after several lodgements reached the dam above Millerstown, much shattered.
As soon as the waters had subsided sufficiently for safety, Jacob Suloff announced his readiness to transport passengers across the river by means of a skiff, which was safely begun on Saturday morning. This means of conveyance was continued until the completion of the bridge.
The board of directors at once proceeded to rebuild the bridge, and made a contract with C. W. Keiffer, of Sunbury, who began the work at once, and completed it at a cost of $10,000, ready for travel, Saturday, August 20, 1881.
The first toll-house was built in 1830, and James Butler was the first toll-gatherer. He was succeeded in 1833 by William Reeder, and in 1835 by Eleanor Frow, who continued until 1844, when Mrs. Mary Wallace succeeded, and remained until 1850, and was followed by Mrs. McCrum. The receipts for the first twenty-five years were very moderate, and seldom amounted to more than six per cent. The first year the amount collected was $900 and contingent expenses $200, and it was a long time before the receipts reached $100 a month.
The first officers of the company were elected August 9, 1828, as follows: President, Jacob Wright; Treasurer, Rev. John Hutchison; Secretary, James Mathers; Board of Managers, William McCrum, Joseph Cummins, Dr. Thomas Whiteside, Amos Gustine, Benjamin Kepner and James Mathers.
The following have served as presidents, secretaries and treasurers to the present time: Presidents: Benjamin Kepner, 1830; Daniel Christy, 1837; Amos Gustine, 1838; Jacob Wright, 1839; Rev. John Hutchison, 1840; Robert C. Gallagher, 1841; Edmund S. Doty, 1844; Andrew Parker, 1848; Robert C. Gallagher, 1849; George Jacobs, 1855; Joseph M. Belford, 1857; George Jacobs, 1858; Abraham Guss, 1862; James M. Sellers, 1863; George Jacobs, 1865; Edmund S. Doty, 1867; George Jacobs, 1870; Rev. Joseph H. Mathers, 1834; Robert C. Gallagher, 1835; William Kenney, 1841; George Jacobs, 1844; William Kenney, 1849; Joseph M. Belford, 1850; George Jacobs, 1857; Joseph M. Belford, 1858; William B. Jordan, 1864; Robert E. Parker, 1866; T. J. Frow, 1868; Thomas B. Hildebrand, 1869; Robert E. Parker, 1870.
The board of directors as at present constituted is as follows: President, Rev. Joseph H. Mathers; Treasurer, Robert E. Parker; Directors, W. S. North, E. S. Doty, Jr., E. S. Parker, George Jacobs, Jr., Amos G. Bonsall, Hon. Louis E. Atkinson.
POST-OFFICE AND POSTMASTERS.—The first postmaster of whom anything is learned is David Davidson, who, in 1808, was in charge of the office at this place. The Juniata Stage Company began running their lines of stages through the place in May of that year. He was succeeded in the next year by his son John. William Bell held the office from 1810 to 1815, when he moved to the island and was followed by Jacob Ziegler, who then kept the Juniata Hotel. Dr. David Crawford was appointed under Andrew Jackson in 1828, and served until 1840. The following have served from that time to the present: Mary Abrams, Jacob A. Christy, B. F. Kepner, W. W. Davis, David Watts, Solomon Book, William H. Rogers, and the present incumbent, Charles B. Crawford.
HOTELS.—Without doubt the first tavern in Mifflintown was built by Captain David Davidson. He was a captain in the Revolutionary army, and with his wife came to this place in 1792 and built a log tavern on Water Street, now the site of Snyder’s chair-factory. It was known as “General Greene.” He kept it for several years, and in 1813 rented it to Joseph Fetterman. It was later kept by John Davidson, a son, and Captain Davidson retired to a farm on Lost Creek, where he died. The tavern was last kept by Abraham Selheimer.
Captain Davidson was a member of the Seceder congregation, whose church was about five miles from Mifflintown, and in 1792 was chosen one of the trustees of that society, then under the ministration of the Rev. William Logan. He died about 1836, and was buried in the old grave-yard in Walker township. He had seven children, of whom Sarah became the wife of Dr. John Bryson, Susannah married --- Steele, and Margaret married John Robinson, whose daughter is the wife of B. F. Schweier, editor of the Juniata Sentinel.
“The Yellow House,” as it was called, stood on Water Street, at the corner of Bridge Street, and was kept as early as 1800. John Watson, Esq., kept it about that time. It was kept in 1811 by Joseph Fetterman, during whose occupancy it was burned, in October of that year. One of his daughters and a daughter of Joseph Woods were so much injured by the fire that death ensued. Fetterman then moved to the “Red House,” on the site of the Jacobs House, where he remained until early in 1813, at which time he was in dispute with the proprietor, and the following spicy correspondence was held in the Juniata Gazette, commencing January 14, 1813. Fetterman says “that he has concluded not to submit to the most enormous rise in the rent of his present stand” and has rented “that well-known and most convenient stand at the sign of General Greene, near the upper end of Mifflintown, now in possession of the owner, David Davidson, and which has been occupied as a house of public entertainment more than twenty years.” He adds, “It will be the Seven Stars when I enter on the premises.”
This card from Mr. Fetterman brought the following rejoinder from the owner:
“TO THE PUBLIC.
“The owner of the Tavern stand occupied by Joseph Fetterman, in Mifflintown, says that from Fetterman’s high degree of insensibility to both public and private favours, he was induced to dismiss him and to rent to a person much more deserving of public patronage, which he was solicited to do by a great number of respectable citizens who had occasion to call at said tavern; that rent was not the object, but that dismission was determined, and, to speak in Fetterman’s own language, ‘dot he could not let him have de house without offending de greater number of de friends,’ and that he has no intentin of taking any notice of anything that comes with the signature of J. Fetterman.”
There were many taverns kept at Mifflintown in the early days, and among those to whom license was granted were James Ramsey, November, 1793; Joseph Davis, April, 1794; David Steel, James Gilfillan, Thomas Gallagher and Samuel Jackson, in August, 1794; John Watson, in January, 1795, and John McClure, in April of the same year; Christian Stauffer, Joseph Fetterman, Mary Cottle, Daniel Rodabaugh, in 1813; John Stauffer, Michael Foncannon, John Holman, in 1814; David Davidson, in 1815; Ephraim Banks, in 1816; Frances Kinsloe, in 1819; Jacob Ziegler and Jacob Wise, in 1820.
Mrs. Ramsey kept the tavern after her husband’s death, and Dr. Ezra Doty and Benjamin Law boarded with her before their marriages. She kept in the log house afterwards occupied by Dr. Ezra Doty.
James Crawford, the grandfather of Dr. David M. Crawford, kept tavern a short time from 1808 to 1812.
Fetterman afterward was the landlord of the “Red House” again and remained there many years. He was succeeded by Alexander Ramsey, William Turner, Lewis Roberts, Samuel McWilliams, Reese Meyer, Snyder and Simon Albright, who occupied it when it was destroyed in the fire of 1870.
The present Jacobs House was erected on its site and was opened in 1875 by James Murray, who was succeeded by Samuel Notestine, Samuel Loudon and John Fooreman, the present landlord.
The Juniata Hotel was erected about 1815 by Jacob Sigler, and kept by him until 1827, when he sold it to Adam Wust, who also was landlord several years. It afterwards was sold to George Butterfield, who, with his widow, kept it many years. From that time to the fire in 1883 it was kept by many, and at the time of its destruction was in possession of John Fooreman, now of the Jacobs House.
The Mansion House (now the National) was built by Joseph Cummings in 1832, and kept by him until about 1835, when he removed to Ohio. Captain Jonathan W. Aitken succeeded him and kept about ten years and until his death. He was succeeded by David Stauffer, Jacob Wills, (who was “mine host” for twenty-one years) and was succeeded by James Murray, the present landlord.
SCHOOLS.—The first mention of a school-house in Mifflintown is found in a road record dated August, 1795, in which mention is made of a petition “for a road from the school-house on Main Street.” [James S. Law, born in 1804, says he remembers in his early days a log school-house standing above the Davidson tavern and that James Butler taught school in it.] The Rev. David Elliot wrote that he attended a school in Mifflintown in 1804, taught by the Rev. Matthew Brown, later of Jefferson College and well-known as an educator and pastor of the Mifflin and Lost Creek congregations at that time. He was succeeded in 1805 by the Rev. John Hutcheson, who for many years taught a classical school in the basement of the stone church. At what time he began is not known. Mr. John Wright, who came to this place with his father in 1795, related that a school was kept in the basement of the stone church in 1806, by a Mr. Monaghan, who was also a surveyor. Soon after this time James Butler taught school in a little log house on the Davidson lot, on Front Street. He was teaching then in 1813-14. James S. Law, now living in Mifflintown, attended. Miss Mary Abraham also taught in the building. School was also kept in a log building on the Wright lot by a man named Russell. In the year 1815 the people of Mifflintown began to agitate the question of building a public school-house. Meetings were held, and the Rev. John Hutcheson, William Bell and Benjamin Law were selected as trustees to purchase a lot and erect a union school-house. A subscription was started and funds subscribed. On the 27th of May, 1816, these trustees purchased of James Knox lot No. 81, of the town plat, sixty by one hundred and forty feet, on Third Street. It is recited in the deed to the trustees that “Whereas the inhabitants of Mifflintown and its vicinity have entered into an association and have agreed to purchase a lot of ground whereon to raise a school-house for an English school, to be called the Mifflintown Union School . . . . “ The school-house referred to was built during that season, and was of stone, one and a half stories high, and about twenty-four feet square. Mr. Law attended school in the new house when it was first opened in the winter of 1816-17. An Englishman by the name of --- Gwinnett was the first teacher. In the next season Judge Noah Elder was a pupil; William Banks was then the teacher and continued for several hears. One John Ferguson taught for a time about 1819 or 1820. He was a very good teacher in the forenoon, but in the afternoon his potations were quite often too much for him and he would fall asleep, and one by one his pupils would steal away and leave the master alone in slumber. Alexander McGarrah, an Irishman, taught in the house in 1820-21. He was a fine penman and a very severe disciplinarian. Other teachers were Mr. Mullin, Thomas Telfer (who taught several years from 1823), Dr. James Frow (who taught while studying medicine with Dr. Edward Doty) and Orrin Hamlin, Joseph Lytle, John Frow, John Ferguson, Jacob A. Christy, --- Elliot, --- Bullock.
The stone school-house was used until 1839, when Banjamin Law, as trustee, sold the lot to the directors of Fermanagh township for fifty dollars. The brick school-house was built on the lot in 1840, but no school was kept that year.
Before the brick house was built, school was kept in the Methodist house, which stood on the present church-lot. Leonard Woodward was the teacher. A select school was kept at the same time by Mr. McEwen in a room in the Knox House (now Parker).
Among the first teachers in the brick house were Tobias Kreider, --- Morrow and Samuel B. Crawford. The brick house was then the only one used until the present two-story brick, containing four large school-rooms, was built, in 1863, when the brick school-house and lot were sold to Benjamin Witmer, whose widow now owns and occupies it.
The free school law was enacted in April, 1834, and the first meeting of delegates under the act was held in the court-house at Mifflintown, November 4th, at which were present John Funk and David Glenn, commissioners, and the following-named delegates from the several townships: Thomas McCurdy, Fermanagh; Samuel Himes, Walker; John Shellenberger, Greenwood; Thomas Todd, Milford; George Gilliford, Turbett; Matthew Loughlin, Tuscarora; and Joseph Berry, from Lack.
This convention decided to raise by taxation thirty-five hundred dollars, arranged times of meeting for directors to divide these townships into districts and such other duties as were in their province. At the next annual meeting all the townships were represented, and also in 1836.
Juniata County, unlike many other counties in the State, accepted the school law from the first, even with its many burdens, and while there was much opposition, it was not so much against education as methods, which in a few years was remedied.
Mifflintown was in Fermanagh School District and there remained until 1851, when it became independent. At that time Robert C. Gallagher, Jonathan W. Aitken, Robert Barnard, James W. Crawford, E. S. Doty and Joseph M. Belford were elected as school directors. The board organized May 19th, and elected as the teachers for the school year John Huzzard and Mary Abraham, who continued irregularly until 1861. Of others who taught in the early days of the district, were Hiram Albert, and Clarissa Philips.
There are at present in Mifflintown four schools, containing two hundred and thirty pupils, under the care of Capt. James J. Patterson.
MIFFLINTOWN ACADEMY.—A preliminary meeting was held in Mifflintown September 5, 1883, which resulted in the formation and incorporation of the Mifflintown Academy. The building erected by Ezra S. Parker was leased, and Professor Duncan was placed in charge and continued until the close of the Spring term in 1885.
The Rev. L. Y. Hays was chosen as principal, and the academy opened September 9, 1885, with three teachers and two full courses of instruction—the English course and the preparatory classical.
James Butler, who is mentioned in Mifflintown as a teacher in 1808 and again in 1813, and in various parts of the county until 1831, wrote a history of the navy of the United States. The following concerning it is here given by Professor A. L. Guss:
“In 1816 James Butler published a book entitled ‘American Bravery Displayed in the capture of Fourteen Hundred Vessels of War and Commerce since the Declaration of War by the President. Compiled from the best Authorities.’ It was printed at Carlisle, by George Phillips, for the author. He dates the preface ‘Mifflin County, Pa., November, 1815.’ There are three hundred and twenty-two pages and a list of the subscribers. Butler, as a schoolmaster, is found upon the tax-lists of Milford, Lack, Turbett and Fermanagh most of the years from 1804 to 1831. He seems to have floated around from place to place in pursuit of his calling. In 1816 he was in Milford. His subscribers were doubtless made up largely of those he came in contact with as a school-teacher. From this it is evident that he once lived about McVeytown, Aaronsburg and also in Indiana County. Most of them are in Lack, Milford, “Mifflin and vicinity.’ A large list of subscribers, headed ‘Lewistown and vicinity,’ contains names from all parts of the county as it then was constituted, and they were likely gathered during court week on this one list.”
The writer has the copy subscribed for by “Simon Guest, Juniata township, Cumberland County.” On a fly-leaf is written, “Simon Guess, his book, July 3, 1816. Price $1.25.” On another leaf is, “Abraham Guss is my Name, and Milford is my Dwelling and Single is my Station. Licking Creek is near my Habitation. May the 19th, 1819.” This was amended soon after by another hand, who wrote “double” over the word “single.”
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.—The first settlers in this locality were Scotch-Irish, who located along Lost Creek and the Juniata. Of these families were the Pattersons, Nelsons, Purdys, Cunninghams and others. Locations were taken up in 1755, but no permanent settlement made until about 1762. In the next year the erection of a log church was begun on what later was known as the glebe lands. This was not completed before the settlers were again compelled to flee to Carlisle and other places of refuge. It was not until 1766 that they were again settled upon their several locations. One of the first things to be attended to was the erection of the house of worship. That this, however, was not done in the summer of that year is shown by the following.
In the summer of 1766 the Rev. Charles Beatty and the Rev. George Duffield, ministers appointed by the Synod of New York and Philadelphia to visit the frontier, set out on their journey. On Monday, August 18th, they left Carlisle, crossed the North Mountain and passed into Sherman’s Valley. On the 20th they crossed the Tuscarora Mountain, preached to the people, and lodged at the house of William Graham, in Tuscarora Valley. Mr. Beatty states in his journal: “Friday, 22d. Preached in the woods, as we have hitherto done, north side of the Juniata. Here, also, the people had begun to build a house of worship, but left it unfinished. Lodged at Captain Patterson’s, where we remained on the 23d. Here we agreed to separate for a season, Mr. Duffield to go into Path Valley, and I along the Juniata.” These missionaries evidently stopped with the people of the Cedar Spring congregation, as Captain James Patterson is one to whom the glebe lands were warranted in trust in March of the next year (1767).
The people of the region were undoubtedly quickened in their desire to have a house of worship by the visit of the missionaries, and it is stated that the congregation, upon examining the foundation of the church building, that had commenced years before, finding it was not sufficiently large to accommodate the numbers that were settling in the neighborhood, decided to build a larger one. A new site was chosen a few rods from the old foundation and the house erected. At this time the land on which it was located was not yet secured, and in the winter of 1766-67, Captain James Patterson and James Purdy were authorized to go to the Land-Office and secure a grant of land for the purpose. An order of survey, No. 3268, for two hundred acres of land, was obtained, adjoining lands of Robert Nelson, Rev. Thomas Barton and John Wilkes, and given to James Patterson and James Purdy “in trust for a Presbyterian meeting-house and graveyard.” The location was surveyed by James Wilson, an assistant of William Maclay, deputy surveyor. It was returned as three hundred and thirty-two acres. Mr. Maclay decided that this was more land than could be returned under the order, divided the plot and returned to the congregation two hundred and thirty-two acres, eighteen perches. This decision became in after-years a source of great trouble and vexatious law-suits to the church. The meeting-house was built upon the tract and was used by the congregation until about 1799, when the congregations of Mifflintown and Lost Creek each built a house of worship, and the old meeting-house was abandoned. The first official notice of Cedar Spring congregation is found in the records of Donegal Presbytery, October 1, 1768, at which time Cedar Spring congregation made application for supplies. The Rev. Mr. Cooper was appointed and doubtless served.
At the next meeting of Presbytery, in April, 1769, a joint application was received from the Tuscarora and Cedar Spring congregations for a supply, and the Rev. Mr. Cooper was again appointed and served the two congregations. The congregations were supplied in 1769-70, but by whom is not known. At the April meeting of Presbytery, 1771, the congregations of Tuscarora and Cedar Spring presented a call to the Rev. Mr. Rea. No account is found as to whether he served. In the year, 1771 the Rev. J. Kennedy, a Presbyterian minister from the north of Ireland, came to this country and to this people and settled among them. In a suit-at-law, which grew out of the troubles mentioned above, and occurred in the year 1813, mention is made “that about the year 1774 or 1775 (the congregation) built a parsonage-house upon the tract, which was first occupied by their minister, Mr. Kennedy,” who remained there until about the year 1779, when he was succeeded by the Rev. Hugh Magill. He was a native of Ireland, licensed and ordained before coming to this country. He was received by the Second Presbytery of Philadelphia, in 1776, and dismissed to the Presbytery of Donegal October 15, 1777. He was called to the pastoral charge of the Lower Tuscarora and Cedar Spring congregations in 1779, and was installed pastor in November of that year, making his residence in the parsonage on the glebe lands of the Cedar Spring congregation.
He remained as their pastor for many years. He was one of the constituent members of the Huntingdon Presbytery upon its organization, in April, 1795. At the next stated meeting of the Presbytery after its organization the Rev. Hugh Magill asked that the pastoral relation between himself and the Lower Tuscarora congregation be dissolved, giving as his reasons his age and infirmities. The request was granted and he remained pastor of Cedar Spring congregation.
Differences grew up between the members of the congregation and Mr. Magill, arising out of the division of the original survey, and the congregation appointed, as representatives to visit the Presbytery and lay the case before that body, Robert Nelson, James Cunningham and David Martin. Their statement was made October 3, 1798, with the request that the Presbytery appoint a committee to meet at the Cedar Spring Church and assist them in a reconciliation.
In accordance with this request, the Rev. David Wiley, John Bryson and Hugh Morrison, with Elders Thomas Ferguson, William Bell, Esq., and John Cooper, were appointed a committee to meet at the church on the last Saturday of October, 1798. This committee met, and, on the 20th of November, reported that they had met at the time and place appointed, but could not reconcile the parties. The Presbytery appointed a meeting in January, at which time the Rev. Mr. Magill informed Presbytery that, in consequence of his advanced age and many infirmities, he conceived himself no longer capable of discharging the duties of a pastor, and asked that the pastoral relation be dissolved. The members of the session united with Mr. Magill in this request, and stated that, in consideration of his past labors with the congregation, they would pay to him annually thirty dollars and continue to him the use of the glebe during his natural life. Upon this the Presbytery dissolved the pastoral relation, and declared the congregation vacant. Mr. Magill was appointed supply in May and June, and the Rev. David Wiley to administer the Lord’s Supper on the 3d of August, with Mr. Samuel Bryson to assist on that occasion. [Samuel Bryson here mentioned was a son of Judge Samuel Bryson, who was studying for the ministry, but who was stricken with disease and never was ordained].
The following extract from the minutes of the session held October 2, 1790, will explain the story:
“A paper was handed to the Presbytery, signed by Mr. Magill, in which he declines all connection with the Presbytery and that he will not submit to our authority. Also, a letter from Mr. M. to Samuel Bryson, in which he desires Mr. B. not to assist in administering the Lord’s Supper at Cedar Spring on the 3d Sabbath of August last, although Mr. B. had been appointed to that service by Presbytery. It was, moreover, represented to Presbytery that Mr. M. had procured the doors of the meeting-house at Cedar Spring to be nailed up, so that Mr. Morrison was prevented from preaching there on the Second Sabbath of August; that the people have thus been prevented from the use of the house ever since, and that his conduct has been, in other respects, irregular and disorderly, contrary to the peace and welfare of the society and injurious to the interests of religion in general.”
In consequence of these representations, Mr. Magill was cited before the Presbytery, but did not appear, at two meetings; but finally, in April, 1800, appeared, acknowledged most of his error, and submitted to the Presbytery, who dealt leniently with him. The congregation resumed the payment of the annuity and continued the care of the aged pastor with much charity and Christian patience until his death, September 14, 1805.
At a meeting of Presbytery October 2, 1799, it was ordered that Cedar Spring and Lost Creek congregations be allowed to apply to Carlisle Presbytery for supplies.
The log church stood for many years, and was used regularly until about 1800, and, occasionally, a few years after. It was of hewed logs, about twenty-four by thirty feet, with high pulpit on the south side and door on the east. The glebe lands were sold in parcels, except about one acre, and the proceeds divided between the congregations of Mifflin and Lost Creek. One hundred and thirty acres were sold, April 30, 1814, to Joseph Knox, merchant, of Carlisle; the balance was sold later to Christian Musser and Christian Alsdorff. The grave-yard was fenced. It contains many stones of early and later dates. The Rev. Hugh Magill, pastor of the church from 1779 to 1796, died in 1805, and lies buried in the yard, but without a stone to mark the spot.
The following are of the early members of the church whose tombstones are still standing and the epitaphs legible:
“Here lies Interred the remains of Martha Nelson, the wife of Robert Nelson, who departed this life the 26th day of February, Anno Domini 1794, aged about 63 years.”
Mary Allen, daughter of Robert and Martha Nelson, and wife of David Allen, and her husband lie buried by the side of her mother. He was a soldier of the Revolution, and died August 18, 1839, aged seventy-eight years, and she died February 28, 1840, at an advanced age. The oldest stone in the yard bears date 1766, and is to the memory of a daughter of the Sharon family, who lived near Oakland Mills. Jane Sharon, aged thirty-five, died June 19, 1780, and Mary Sharon died January 13, 1794, aged seventeen years. A representative of a very old family in this section of the country is buried here, the inscription on whose tombstone is as follows:
“Here lies Interd the Remains of Isabella Curren, who departed this life the 7th of December, Anno Domini, 1790. An aged woman Her age unknown.”
There are three flat slabs uniform in size, two of which are erected by Isabella Buchanan. She was the widow of Arthur Buchanan, on whose land the village of Lewistown was laid out, in 1789. In 1795 she married David Jordan, who lived in the Narrows. She died August 9, 1826, and is buried by the side of John Buchanan, her son, who died in September, 1790, aged two years, and Adam Courley, sho died in 1792, aged sixty-one years, and his wife, Mary, who died in September, 1802, aged seventy-three years. The last two are evidently the father and mother of Mrs. Jordan.
Here also are sons of John Elliot. Edward died February 9, 1796, aged twenty-six years, and Huston, August 29, 1797, aged thirteen years.
Of others are Robert McMeen, who departed this life February 22, 1827, aged seventy-three years.
“Interd here lieth the earthly parts of Margaret McMeen, who was removed from this transitory life April 10, 1818, aged 52 years.”
Annah Wright, consort of David Wright, September 14, 1820, aged eighty-four years.
The last one given is in memory of Lucinda Benthall, wife of Eber Benthall, born March 10, 1775, died January 27, 1912, aged thirty-seven years.
This lady was not of an old family in this section, but had a sad, but eventful history. She came to the place a few years before, with her husband, from Philadelphia, and settled upon the old Nelson place. Her husband sold the property within a few months after her death and disappeared.
The village of Mifflintown was becoming a center of influence after it was laid out, in 1791, and John Harris, the founder, denoted a lot on the Main Street for church and grave-yard purposes, and was the first to be buried within its limits. He died February 28, 1794.
A desire was felt on the part of many to erect a church building in the village, and in the fall of 1795 a subscription paper was started. The Rev. Joseph Mathers obtained from his father the following subscription paper, which is of interest in various ways:
“Whereas, It is considered consistent that a house of worship for the professors of the Presbyterian religion be erected in Mifflintown, in the county of Mifflin, therefore we, the subscribers, fully persuaded of the propriety of such a measure, and desirous of encouraging so laudable an undertaking, do promise and engage, to pay into the hands of Hugh McCormick and James Rodman, or either of them, at any time after the building of the house aforesaid is begun, to demand, sue for and recover the several sums of money annexed to our respective names for the purpose of carrying on and completing the building of the house aforementioned. Witness our hands done the first day of November, A. D. 1793. [At this time (1793) John Harris was living, yet his widow, Jane Harris, is a subscriber to this paper. This fact leads the editor to think the original date was 1795 and not 1793.]
£ s. d.
John Watson 25 0 0
Trixtram Davis 0 15 0
John McClure 5 0 0
Ezra Doty 5 0 0
if the house is built of stone, I will pay unto the trustees
Samuel Jackson 5 0 0
if a stone house
Jos. O. Ramsay 5 0 0
Wm. Crook 2 0 0
George Turner 6 0 0
William Long 1 0 0
Robert Stewart 5 0 0
if a stone house is built
James Purdy 7 10 0
fifteen shillings. If a stone house I will pay 25 pounds if a log house
James Harris 25 0 0
Joseph Davis 3 0 0
John Johnson 5 0 0
if a stone house is built
John McClelland 0 7 10
if a stone house and four days’ hauling stone with wagon and team
James Boyd 0 7 6
William Harris 20 0 0
Henry Klugh 0 10 0
Robert Jordon 5 0 0
if stone house
Azr Wright 5 0 0
Hugh McCormick 7 10 0
Robert and George Toury 7 10 0
James Rodman 5 0 0
John Hamilton 7 0 0
one pound and ten shillings. On condition that the house is built with stone, and on ground the most central to the present congregation, and of genteel plan, I will pay
Wm. Cunningham 2 0 0
Joseph Sheavor 1 2 6
William Henderson 2 0 0
John Hardy 5 0 0
Alex. Robison 5 0 0
Hugh Hardy 2 0 0
William McCormick 5 0 0
David Hardey 1 2 6
William Hardey 0 12 6
Thomas Hardey 0 12 6
George Campbell 0 12 6
Jean Anderson 1 2 6
James Henderson 0 12 6
Joseph Vanhorne 2 0 0
Aquilla Burchfield 0 15 0
John Knox 6 0 0
Jacob Wright 0 10 0
James Taylor 0 10 0
John Cunningham 1 0 0
James Harris Sr 5 0 0
James Knox 25 0 0
Sam’l Jamison 3 0 0
John Jamison 2 5 0
John Elliott 3 0 0
John Simpson 3 0 0
Wm Robison 3 0 0
Wm Brisbin 7 10 0
Hugh Magill 3 0 0
Matthew McClure 3 0 0
James McCalley 7 10 0
Wm McCoy 7 10 0
Samuel Davidson 6 10 0
Thos Gallaher 5 0 0
William Campbell 1 0 0
Charles Clark 0 15 0
Jane Harris, widow 10 0 0
Jean Patterson 3 0 0
John Kelly 2 0 0
James Johnson 0 11 3
Nath. Johnson 0 11 3
Michael McMullen 0 11 0
Robt Sturgeon 1 2 6
John Wright 3 0 0
Wm Cunningham 0 15 0
blacksmith
Adam Johnston 1 0 0
Andrew Johnston 1 0 0
John Stewart 15 0 0
if built of stone
Wm Martin 6 0 0
John Beaty 2 0 0
Samuel C Greer 1 10 0
Daniel Murray 2 0 0
John Alexander 2 5 0
John Trit 1 2 6
Andrew Dixson 3 0 0
Michael McCrum 1 2 6
William Adams 3 0 0
John Carmont 6 0 0
John Lytle 3 0 0
Dorothea Turbett 3 10 0
Mary Wilson, widow 3 15 0
Geo. Wilson 3 15 0
to be paid in six months
David Greer 3 7 6
James Sanderson 5 0 0
Hugh McAlister 1 10 0
James Aitken 3 0 0
Thos. Turbett 9 0 0
Andrew Nelson 4 10 0
Thos M Stewart 3 0 0
Robert McAlister 1 10 0
James P. Nelson 2 5 0
Andrew Patterson 2 0 0
Wm. Bell 0 15 0
James Criswell 0 15 0
John Culbertson 1 2 6
Jos. Culbertson 1 15 0
Mos. Thompson 1 2 6
John Patterson 1 10 0
Jno Bratton 0 8 2
John Cummin 0 15 0
is to pay
Conrad Tintner 3 0 0
£423 4 4
70 18 4
£494 2 7
Jas McClelland 3 0 0
four days’ hauling
£497 2 7
87 4 10 ½
£409 17 8 ½”
The house was begun soon after this time, but was not completed in the winter of 1798-99, as on February 13th of that year, 1799, an act of Legislature passed, authorizing Samuel Bryson, James Knox, John Watson, William Harris and James Rodman, commissioners named, to raise by lottery a sum of money not to exceed two thousand dollars, “to be applied to defraying the expenses of completing the building of the Presbyterian meeting-house in Mifflintown.”
This lottery was never held. The tickets were issued and placed in the hands of James Knox, one of the elders of this church. He retained them, and, in after-years, his daughter Maria placed them in a scrap-book, which is now in possession of Mrs. Joseph Cummings, of Sydney, Ohio. The house was built of stone and left unfinished for several years, and until the Rev. John Hutcheson became the pastor, in 1805. With the desire to have the house of worship completed, he preached a sermon from the text, Haggai i. 4: “Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in ceiled houses and this house lie waste?” This ermon had the desired effect, and the house was soon after plastered on the sides and ceiled overhead with pine and left unpainted.
A basement was made underneath, opening upon the street, which was fitted up for a school-room and used many years by the Rev. Mr. Hutcheson. The audience-room was entered by large folding-doors from the east end. The pews were high-backed and in four rows. The pulpit was high, surmounted by a sounding-board painted green, on the top of which was placed a carved pine-apple, about fifteen inches in length. The church was probably inclosed in the winter of 1799-1800, as, on the 2d of April, 1800, the Huntingdon Presbytery met at Mifflintown. At about the same time the Lost Creek congregation built a log church near McAlisterville. The united congregations of Mifflin and Lost Creek are first mentioned November 10, 1801, when a call is made for the Rev. Matthew Brown, a licentiate, who began his labors with the congregations in the fall of 1801, but was not ordained and installed until the meeting of Presbytery in April, 1802. He remained with the people until March 20, 1805, when, at his own request, the pastoral relation was dissolved.
At the same time a call was put into his hands from Washington, Pa., which he accepted, and he was dismissed to the Presbytery of Ohio and soon after became president of Washington College, and later the distinguished and honored educator and president of Jefferson College, at Cannonsburg, Pa.
Mr. John Hutcheson, a native of Dauphin County, Pa., graduated at Dickinson College, under the Rev. Charles Nisbet, D.D.; was licensed to preach in the fall of 1804 and received a call from the congregations of Mifflintown and Lost Creek October 1, 1805, which he accepted and began his labors. He was ordained pastor of the congregations at a meeting of Presbytery at Lost Creek Church April 15, 1806. A charter was obtained March 1, 1807. Mr. Hutchieson served faithfully the congregations until his death, November 11, 1844, and for many years taught the classics to young men who attended his school from a great distance. The Sabbath following the decease of Mr. Hutcheson, the Rev. Matthew Allison was invited to fill the pulpit and was asked to remain as a supply until spring. He had been pastor of a church in Kilbarchan, Scotland, twenty-three years, and in Paterson, N.J., eighteen months. He received a call to become pastor of this church March 26, 1845, and was installed the following April, and remained as pastor until his death, July 8, 1872. His failing health, in 1871, led him to ask for a release from the congregations, but they desired him to remain, and secured T. J. Sherrard, at that time a licentiate of the Presbytery of Steubenville, to act as co-pastor. He preached for the first time November 5, 1861, and began his regular labors January, 1862, and was ordained and installed June 11, 1872. Mr. Allison did not long survive, and the Rev. Mr. Sherrard became the pastor and remained until April 15, 1875, when he resigned. A strong desire on the part of the Mifflintown congregation to be an independent congregation led to a meeting December 9, 1874, at which it was resolved to petition Presbytery at the April meeting. This action coming to the notice of the Lost Creek congregation, that body protested, by resolution, January 8, 1875, against the dissolution of the charter. These proceedings were read before Presbytery April 13, 1875. A committee was appointed, and, on the 15th of June, 1875, the Rev. Mr. Laird, on behalf of the committee, preached to the Lost Creek congregation in the morning and the Mifflin congregation in the evening, and read to each the decision of the committee and the Presbytery, to the effect that the congregations were divided and each independent. This occasioned ill-feeling, and suits followed, which resulted in the church property at Mifflintown coming to the jurisdiction of the Lost Creek congregation, who now hold it.
The old stone church was used until 1838, when it was torn down, and the brick church, now standing on Main Street, opposite the site of the old one, was built in the summer of 1839 and used until it came to the jurisdiction of the Lost Creek congregation.
The Mifflintown congregation leased a lot on Washington Street, and erected the present chapel, which was first opened for service October 11, 1879. The Rev. T. J. Sherrard continued as pastor of the Mifflintown Presbyterian Church until April, 1880, and accepted August 2d. He served the church until November 1, 1884. The Rev. L. Y. Hays was called as a supply June 1, 1885, to serve the church for one year, and it is now in his charge. The society has at present about two hundred and fifty members.
MESSIAH EVANGELICAL CHURCH.—The first minister of the Lutheran denomination of whom anything is known as having preached west of the Susquehanna River was the Rev. Mathias Guntzel, who preached to the settlers in Pfoutz Valley from 1789 to 1796. He was succeeded by the Rev. John Herbst, who preached in the old church in Half Falls Mountain Gap, in Perry County. He traveled through the more sparsely-settled parts of the country, preaching to the people. He was succeeded, in 1804, by the Rev. Conrad Walter, who labored, in this region, until 1809. In that year the Rev. George Heim began to preach statedly in Tuscarora Valley, at Mifflintown, Lewistown, Decatur and a number of other places between the Juniata and Susequehanna Rivers. About 1800 the Lutherans resident in Mifflintown became desirous of having a house of worship, and accepted the donation of a lot of land from the heirs of John Harris as a site. Services were occasionally held here by missionaries, and in 1809, through the preaching of the Rev. George Heim, the society were incited to erect a house of worthip. The effort was made, and by 1811 a log house, about twenty-eight by thirty feet, with galleries on three sides, was erected on the southwest corner of the present church-lot. The Rev. George Heim preached to the congregations in the valley until 1814, when the Rev. John William Heim, his brother, having been licensed to preach, received a call from the Lutheran congregations in Mifflin County, Tuscarora Valley and Mifflintown (now Juniata County), Lewistown and Decatur, Cumberland County, Pfoutz Valley and Greenwood, New Buffalo (now Perry County). The trustees of these congregations, Jacob Byner, of Decatur, Mifflin County, John Kepner and John Rice, of Milford (now Juniata County), and Henry Fry, of Greenwood (now Perry County), purchased one and a half acres of land on the road from Mifflintown to Mexico, of John Riddle, on the 1st of April, 1814, and erected thereon a parsonage. To this land the Rev. J. W. Heim moved and began his labors. He preached, for the first time, at St. Mary’s Church, Mifflintown (now Messiah), on the 26th June, 1814, and thereafter to each congregation once in four weeks. He resided in the parsonage near Mifflintown until the spring of 1828, when he moved to Loysville, Perry County, and discontinued preaching at Lewistown and Decatur.
Services were held in the log house in Mifflintown for the first time in 1811, at which time the Lord’s Supper was administered by the Rev. George Heim. In the next year the society numbered forty-six members. The Rev. J. William Heim remained in charge of this church until 1835, and in 1831 he served the following congregations: Mifflintown, Tuscarora (near Port Royal), Zion (at Blain), Loysville, St. Peter’s (Bloomfield), Mount Zion (or Fishing Creek), Liverpool and St. Michael’s, in Pfoutz Valley.
The St. Mary’s Church (now Messiah), at Mifflintown, and the Tuscarora Church, desirous of having more constant service, in October, 1833, petitioned the Synod for another pastor, and the Rev. Charles Weyl was assigned to the church, in 1834, to take charge of the English portion. The Rev. Mr. Heim still continued until 1835, when he resigned the charge of all the churches in Juniata County, and devoted his time to the congregations southwest of the Juniata River. On the 1st of April, 1835, the parsonage lot, about two miles from Mifflintown, was sold to Solomon Haas. The deed was given by William Rannels, Sr., Jacob Kepner, John Weishaupt and John Murphy, trustees of the Lutheran congregation, and Peter Diven and William Walsdmith, trustees of the Reformed Church. The property, in 1838, was sold to Mrs. Peter Diven, and is now owned by Miss Susanna Weaver. No account of a Reformed congregation is obtained other than the above.
On the 15th of March, 1835, the Rev. S. R. Boyer took charge of the society and preached in both English and German. He continued as pastor until March 15, 1846, when he preached his farewell sermon.
On the 28th of August, 1837, the pastor, the Rev. Mr. Boyer, called the society together to consider the propriety of erecting a new church edifice. After due consideration, it was deemed advisable to endeavor to erect a new house. Jacob Ziegler, John F. Saiger, Abraham Guss and Samuel Davis were appointed a committee to raise a subscription, and, if advisable, to proceed to the erection of a church. A subscription was begun and in three months’ time two thousand dollars was raised and contract was made with Peter Bernheisel to erect a brick edifice. The log church was in the southwest corner of the church-lot, and the corner-stone of the new church was laid in the southeast corner of the same lot, on the 11th of August, 1838, and the building was completed in the next year and dedicated February 23, 1839. Services were held by the Revs. William Heim, William German, D. P. Rosenmiller, Emanuel Frey and the pastor, S. R. Boyer.
The church building was fifty-one by sixty-one feet. It was used until its partial destruction, in 1879, when it was enlarged by the addition of twelve feet on the front, and otherwise improved, at a cost of forty thousand dollars. The society also are in possession of a parsonage at the head of Bridge Street.
Since the retirement of the Rev. S. R. Boyer, in March, 1846, the following pastors have served the society:
Rev. Jacob Martin, 1846-48; Rev. Levi F. Willliams, 1848-58; Rev. Philip Willard, 1858-61; Rev. Robert H. Fletcher, 1861-67; Rev. J. B. Anthony, 1867-70; Rev. D. M. Blackwlder, 1870-76; Rev. E. E. Berry, April 1, 1876 – April 1, 1885; Rev. Philip Graif, June, 1885.
A branch society, the St. Stephen’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, was established in Milford township about 1860, and which, in 1861, erected a frame church building. This branch has eighty members, and the present society has about two hundred and sixty.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.—About the year 1830 the first sermon was preached by a Methodist minister, by the Rev. --- Kincaid, a brother of James Kincaid, in his office, he being a justice of the peace. From that time until 1841 sermons were occasionally delivered by Mr. Kincaid.
About 1835 a frame school-house was built by the Methodists, in which they held both schools and meetings. This was used until a brick church, about thirty-five by sixty feet, was built on the present site. It was remodeled in 1862 and practically rebuilt and enlarged in 1873, and dedicated January 4, 1874. It was damaged by the great storm of 1879 and repaired. The society at present numbers two hundred and twenty-five members.
The following is a list of the pastors since the church became an independent station: 1841-42, Jacob Gruber; 1843-44, J. N. Spangler; 1845-46, Henry Ewing; 1847-48, Franklin Dyson; 1849-50, George Stevenson; 1851-52, Ephraim McCollum; 1853-54, N. S. Buckingham; 1855-56, Franklin Gearhart; 1857-58, W. A. McKee; 1859-60, John W. Langley; 1861, Philip B. Reese; 1862-63, John Stine; 1864-65, S. H. C. Smith; 1867-68, E. W. Kirby; 1869-70, A. M. Barnitz; 1871-73, H. C. Pardoe; 1874-75, G. D. Pennepacker; 1876-77, Thomas Sherlock; 1878-79, R. E. Wilson; 1880-81, W. V. Gance; 1882-84, M. L. Smith; 1885, J. B. Mann.
CEMETERIES.—The first burial-place of the early settlers of Mifflintown was unknown until 1874, when, upon excavating for the present court-house, two skeletons were found buried horizontally, about two feet beneath the surface, lying east and west, about eight feet apart. They were south of the foundation wall of the court-house, and it is thought the place was used as a burial-ground before the Presbyterian burial-ground was first used, in 1794. The latter was laid out by John Harris for church and burial-place in 1793, and he was the first to be buried in it, having been laid there to rest on the 23d of February, 1794. It is still used and was added to in 1871, by purchase from John Wright.
The Lutheran Grave-Yard was also donated for church and burial purposes, and has been used to the present time. In 1868 a number of citizens of Mifflintown formed an association under the name of the “Union Cemetery Association,” and presented a petition to the Juniata County Court, asking for an act of incorporation, which was granted on the 12th day of December 1868, with the following corporators: W. H. Maxwell, Samuel M. Elliot, R. P. McWilliams, William Wise, Rev. J. B. Anthony, J. E Hollobaugh, F. M. Mickey and Isaac Coffman. The association purchased of William H. Noble fifteen acres of land in Walker township, south of the borough, and about three-quarters of a mile distant. It was properly graded, fenced and laid out, and it was dedicated August 14, 1869. The following remarks by the Rev. J. B. Anthony, as prefatory to the charter and by-laws, are of interest:
“A suitable place for the sepulture of the dead has been an acknowledged want by the citizens of Mifflintown, Patterson and adjacent neighborhoods for years. Earnest and well-meant efforts have been made by certain of the citizens, from time to time, to decure such a place, but each undertaking met with objections, and owing to various causes, was in its turn abandoned. The only two grave-yards in the vicinity—the one adjoining the Presbyterian Church, and the other that of the Lutheran Church—are said to be full, or nearly so; hence the necessity of securing some other convenient and eligible resting-place for the dead has become an absolute necessity. Besides this, there is a general wish pervading the heart of the community to have a place for interment, where they can be assured that the graves of their friends and themselves will not be molested by the extension of the town or the onward march of improvement, and where they can have good and sufficient safeguards guaranteed to them, that the sacred inclosure shall ever be kept in good repairs. Another very general desire of the community, including all classes, is to have a burial-place where whole families may be grouped together side by side on the same plot of ground.
“Actuated by a desire to meet these felt and acknowledged wants of the community, the stockholders of Union Cemetery have purchased the pleasant and beautiful grounds, which are now laid off and prepared for the burial of the dead; and thus have given a practical exhibition of their desire to do good to others, rather than from any expectation that the investment in this sparsely-peopled section will, at least for a long time to come, if ever, be a profitable one. Neither have the stockholders reserved or set apart any portion of the grounds for themselves, but, in common with all other citizens, they will make their selections for lots and will pay for them at the established rates.
“Descended, as most of us have, from European ancestors, representing many of the different States and nationalities of the Old World; and composed as we are of different Christian denominations, and destined as we all are, ere long, to mingle together in the dust, the name of Union Cemetery has been unanimously agreed upon as the most appropriate appellation for this sacred repository for the dead.
“The first interment in this sacred ‘God’s Acre’ was that of Joseph M. Belford, Esq., a most worthy and estimable citizen of Mifflintown, in the 47th year of his age. The second, that of a nameless infant child of Wm. J. Jackman, Esq., but two days old.”
FIRE COMPANIES AND FIRES.—The first fire of which anything is known in the limits of the borough was that at the “Yellow House,” in 1811, a tavern which stood on the site of the brick house at the west end of the bridge. It was then kept by Joseph Fetterman.
At what time a fire company was first organized is not known, but is said to be soon after 1800. The next organization was effected June 21, 1834. At that time a constitution was drawn up and signed by the following persons: James Mathers, William W. Kirk, Thomas McCurdy, A. Gustine, Caleb Parker, R. C. Gallagher, Andrew Parker, John Schweier, C. Cottle, James Frow, Tobias Kreider, John Ferguson, E. Wise, John T. Saiger, S. G. Nesbitt, George Jacobs, John M. Thompson, Thomas Kerr, Samuel Davis, Charles T. Swearingen, William Kenny, Benjamin Akley, Samuel Pennebaker, William Henderson, Jonathan McCoy, Philo Hamlin, Alexander M. Nesbit, John J. Eberley, William C. Hershey, John B. Bratton, Henry H. Murphy.
The preamble of the constitutions is a follows:
“Whereas, it is at all times the duty of members of society to assist each other when assailed by misfortunes; but in no case is the dependence of man upon his fellow-men more forcibly exemplified than when his property is exposed to the destructive ravages of fire; thus, next to Divine assistance, relying upon the mutual aid and exertions of each other, it becomes no less an object of policy than a principle of duty, to associate for their mutual security.
“Therefore, we, the subscribers, residing in the Borough of Mifflin, do hereby associate and form ourselves into a company, and agree to adopt and be governed by the following rules and articles of association.”
This is followed by the rules which are common to such organizations. No further information concerning the company is obtainable.
The first official record of a company is in Council records of April 18, 1842, at which time Council authorized the fire company to have the engine repaired at the expense of the borough. An engine-house stood on the public grounds, near the northeast corner. At the same meeting Council ordered six ladders of different lengths to be made for fire purposes, and kept on the public grounds; also ordered each family to purchase and keep two fire-buckets, to be paid for by the owners of the property, and to be left on the premises.
Robert Parker says this company was composed of boys of the town, who had wool hats, made at Ferie’s hat-factory, for part uniform. The engine became of no use from rust and disuse, and the company ran down.
In the winter of 1854, stables in the rear of Mrs. Jane Bryson’s were burned and the matter of a fire company and fire engine was discussed, which resulted in Mr. Anthony Sandoe, then a member of the Council, visiting Harrisburg with a view of making some arrangements for the purchase of an engine.
He succeeded in trading the old engine for another second-hand brake engine by the payment of two hundred and twenty-eight dollars. This was brought to the borough and repaired. The engine is still in possession of the borough, but useless. An effort was made after the fire of 1883 to form a fire company, which was successful in organizing with ninety-one members, but not successful in retaining organization, and the borough is to-day without a company, and is dependent for fire appliances upon its adjoining town, Patterson, for help in case of disaster by fire.
The three notable fires of Mifflintown occurred in 1870, 1873, 1883. The first occurred December 31, 1870, in the building next the bridge on the south side of the street, and swept east to the residence of E. D. Parker, and southward, embracing all the southwest quarter of the town, except the dwellings of E. D. Parker, Noah Elder and Alexander Ellis.
The next fire began in or near the Sentinel office, on the north side of Bridge Street, at Elbow Alley, embraced the Nevin building and all on the square east and north to the Juniata Hotel.
The last fire, August 25, 1883, began in the stable of the Juniata Hotel and destroyed four general stores, hardware-store, drug-store, printing-office, hotel and other buildings.
BANKS.—The banks of Mifflintown are private institutions. The first was established in August, 1864, by Doty, Parker & Co., in a building on the corner of Bridge and Water Streets. Business was opened August 31st in that year. The present banking-office was fitted up and occupied in January, 1872. Edmund S. Doty retired from the firm August 31, 1879, since which time the firm-name has been Parker & Co.
The Juniata Valley Bank (Pomeroy, Patterson, Jacobs & co.) was organized in 1867, having twenty stockholders and a cash capital of forty-one thousand dollars. Business was begun August 5, 1867, in the residence of John J. Patterson, and there continued until the completion of the banking-office in the Jacobs Block, February, 1874. Joseph Pomeroy was chosen president and continued till his death, in 1875, when he was succeeded by his son, J. Nevin Pomeroy, who is still president. The first cashier was F. S. Jacobs, who served until April 1, 1869, when he was succeeded by T. V. Irwin, who still holds the position.
THE PRESS.—The greater part of the history of the press of Mifflintown is taken from an article read by Professor A. L. Guss before the Juniata Valley Printers’ Association, September 6, 1879. Some additional facts have been gathered and are given. In an article written by Andrew Banks, about the year 1844, he says:
“The first newspaper published in this county was edited by Michael Duffy in Mifflintown, about the year 1794. It was discontinued in a year or two.” This is the first and only positive information found in regard to this pioneer enterprise, except two receipts, indorsed “for the newspapers” and signed by Michael Duffy in March, 1797, which, like Mr. Banks, are strangely silent in regard to the name of the paper. From the fact that Duffy, on July 4, 1797, started the Huntingdon Courier, it seems clear that he removed his office from Mifflintown to Huntingdon in the early summer of 1797. But the name of his first enterprise has been lost, and not a copy is known to be extant. It may yet be recovered.
Andrew Gallagher started the Mifflin Eagle in the spring of 1817, in the lower part of the Gallagher Mansion, on Water Street. In the summer of 1823 Gallagher died and was succeeded by his brother, Robert C. Gallagher, who issued his first paper July 5, 1823. It had four columns, two dollars per anum, payable half-yearly in advance. At the end of one year it passed into the hands of Joseph Mathers, who started a new series September 18, 1824, and conducted it a year or two. Whether any one succeeded him or not I could not ascertain, but the office was removed to Lewistown about the 1st of May, 1826, where it was published for some years under the same title. The paper on which the Eagle was printed was made at Norton & Selheimer’s mills (1817 to 1830), on Licking Creek, seven miles west of Mifflintown.
Mrs. Jane H. North, daughter of Hugh McAlister and mother of Hon. Hugh North, of Columbia, and Calvin B. North, of Selinsgrove, was at the time of the first publication of the Mifflin Eagle a young girl, and visited the office when the first edition was struck off. She then resided at McAlisterville and says that the first batch of the papers for Lost Creek and McAlisterville, then a village of but three houses, was carried by her on horseback. The paper being published late in the evening, the greater portion of her journey was made after dark. The road, especially along the ridge back of Judge Christy’s farm, was rough and dangerous, the county wild and thinly populated; and there being no bridges in this section, Mrs. North was compelled to ford all the creeks between this place and her destination. She at last reached home safely with her papers, to the delight of the population, as well as herself.
The Mifflin Advocate was started September 8, 1820. A copy of No. 16 is in possession of H. Frysinger, of Lewistown. Published by David McClure, at Mifflintown; four columns, two dollars per annum.
After the removal of the Eagle to Lewistown there was no paper published in Mifflintown until after the organization of the new county of Juniata. There were two papers then started, the Telegraph and Free Press. We will follow these.
The Juniata Telegraph and People’s Advocate was started May 25, 1831, by Samuel McDowell and Charles W. Kelso. How long it was run has not been ascertained, but it was probably succeeded by the Juniata Journal on July 29, 1835, five columns, by F. C. Merklein. He seems to have run the paper about a year and then went to Lewistown. In the latter part of September, 1836, Samuel Shrack commenced the Spirit of the Times and Democratic Press, who, after October 31, 1838, had associated with him Jacob F. Saiger. They were succeeded by James G. Sample, 1840, who about June 6, 1844, changed the name to the Juniata Times. In the middle of April, 1845, the office passed to Jacob F. Saiger. Dec. 1, 1847, it was sold to S. R. Magonagle and J. P. Thompson, and the name was changed to Pennsylvania Register. Dec. 1, 1848, the office was purchased by William P. Cooper, and the name changed to Juniata Register. In 1851 the office passed into the hands of Samuel E. Hench and Amos G. Bonsall, who, in 1852, changed the name to the Tuscarora Register. In 1852 Bonsall became the sole proprietor, and on January 1, 1858, sold to A. J. Greer and Andrew G. Allison, who changed the name again to Juniata Register. July 26, 1858, Allison retired, and his brother William took his place. December 23, 1858, Greer & Allison sold the office to Amos G. Bonsall, who conducted it until the consolidation with the True Democrat.
The Juniata True Democrat was started June 7, 1860, by A. J. Greer and Calvin B. Harris, in connection with Dr. E. D. Crawford. Greer soon after withdrew. Harris had charge till Aug. 14, 1862, when he enlisted in the army, where he died Jan. 18, 1863. Jan. 8, 1863, Greer again became editor. June 11, 1863, Joseph Middaugh and Samuel A. McKenzie took charge of it. Feb. 25, 1864, McKenzie retired. June 9, 1864, Greer associated himself with Middaugh. Nov. 10, 1864, Wm. J. Jackman purchased the material from Dr. Crawford’s estate, and the paper was published by Greer & Jackman until March 15, 1866, when Greer retired. Sept. 14, 1866, it passed from Jackman to George Stroop. Sept. 12, 1867, Jackman again became editor. Oct. 3, 1867, the True Democrat was consolidated with the Juniata Register, and the Democrat and Register, edited by Messrs. Bonsall & Jackman, appeared on October 9, 1867, and they have conducted it to this date. In the spring of 1868 it was enlarged to seven columns. On the night of Dec. 31, 1870, the office was entirely destroyed in the great conflagration. By the courtesy of the Sentinel and Republican offices the paper was regularly issued. In February, 1871, it was enlarged to an eight-column paper and printed on a Cottrell & Babcock power-press.
On September 11, 1839, Jacob Myers, a doctor, druggist and printer, established a five-column paper, under the name of the Juniata Valley Berichter, a German paper, and later he changed the name to the Juniata Aurora and the Perry and Mifflin County Advertiser. In the spring of 1841 he sold his interest in the paper to Peters & Richey, and in the fall of that year went to the West. His printing-office was in the rear of Captain Jonathan W. Aitkin’s store, now Dr. L. Bank’s drug-store.
The Juniata Free Press was started by Samuel G. Nesbit, June 23, 1831, five columns, from whom it passed May 31, 1836, to Stephen Cummings, who, after about a year, sold it. The material then went into the Juniata Herald and Anti-Masonic Democrat, started by George F. Humes, in the fall of 1837, and continued a year or two.
The Juniata Sentinel was a new paper, issued first, December 9, 1846, by Alexander K. McClure, then only nineteen years old. Professor David Wilson, Hon. James Mathers and others were stockholders. In March, 1852, he sold the office to John J. Patterson, who, after one year, sold it to A. J. Greer and E. B. McCrum, February, 1853. After the fall of 1855 Greer was sole proprietor, and in the fall of 1857 sold it to John M. Laird and W. J. Campbell, from whom the paper passed to Wm. W. Davis, who soon after associated John H. Bentley with him. On July 23, 1862, A. L. Guss became owner and editor. During January, 1864, John J. Patterson became owner of a half-interest, and was represented by W. W. Davis for fifteen months. On October 11, 1865, Guss sold the other half to Patterson, and it was then edited by H. H. Wilson until August, 1869, when M. L. Littlefield bought it, and in turn sold it to B. F. Schweier, June 8, 1870.
The Juniata Republican was started by William M. Allison & co., April 4, 1866. The material came from D. Over, of the defunct Bedford Patriot. William W. Davis was the company. August 28, 1869, it was made a stock enterprise, with David Wilson as editor, and W. W. Davis as publisher and business manager. March 29, 1872, Davis died and Allison purchased his interest and assumed full control. June 5, 1872, H. H. Wilson became associate editor. October 10, 1873, the stock and goodwill of the association were purchased by B. F. Schweier, and the paper was consolidated with the Sentinel, and the first issue of the Juniata Sentinel and Republican appeared Oct. 22, 1873, and it is still under this name and ownership.
The Republican Banner was a campaign paper, started September 7, 1875, by H. H. Wilson and T. M. Moore.
The Independent was started by J. W. Speddy, January 17, 1870, out of materials removed from Milton, Pa.; he sold the office to E. B. McCrum, January 8, 1876, who started the Juniata Tribune, February 1, 1876. October 1, 1877, John M. Bowman became editor. August 10, 1878, McCrum sold the office to Smith, but Bowman continued as editor till August 10, 1878, when the office was purchased by E. D. Parker, and Theorus D. Garman became, and still is, the editor. McCrum started the Tribune as a Republican paper, but it was changed to Democratic under the present management.
The Juniata Herald was established, as a stalwart Republican paper, in February, 1880, by William M. Allison, attorney-at-law, who had established the Juniata Republican in 1866, and had been connected with that paper up to the time it was merged into The Sentinel, in 1873. It leads the van of newpaper enterprise, not only in Juniata County, but in the Juniata Valley; is recognized as the organ of the Republican party of Juniata, and, as such, commands the confidence of the Republican party of the State. It is edited with signal ability, and its pungent criticisms keep the dominant party in the county on its good behaviour. In Aug., 1883, in the last great fire in Mifflintown, the Hearld office was destroyed, everything but the body-type of the paper being lost, but it appeared the next week as usual, fresher and brighter than ever. Although the loss was a heavy one, Mr. Allison’s insurance having expired a few days before the fire, he has managed to weather that storm, and the Herald promises a long life of usefulness and prosperity, under the management of its founder.
UNION LODGE, NO. 324, F. AND A. M.—The first lodge of Free and Accepted Masons that was established in Mifflin County (now Juniata), of which we have any record, was Lodge No. 68. Its warrant was granted March 21, 1796, and it was held in Mifflin (now Mifflintown). Its officers were Ezra Doty, M.D., W. M.; Thos. Evans, S. W.; and Robert Cooper, J. W. Mr. Ezra Doty went from Mifflin to Philadelphia, in those days a long journey, to be installed as Master of his lodge, which ceremony was performed by the Grand Master pro. Tem., on evening of March 21, 1796, representatives of Lodges Nos. 2, 9, 19, 31 and 67 being present. Its sessions were regular until April 4, 1814, when its charter was vacated.
The second Masonic lodge was established in Mifflin June 6, 1825. It was called Jackson Lodge, and was removed to Lewistown, and is the present Lewistown Lodge, No. 203.
The third Masonic lodge established in Mifflintown was Union Lodge, No. 324. Its warrant bears date September 6, 1858. The first officers of this lodge were Jacob N. Dewees, W. M.; Wm. Dent, S. W.; F. M. Mickey, J. W.
The charter members were Jacob N. Dewees, William Dent, F. M. Mickey, G. M. Kulp, William Power, C. M. Lewis, John McCloskey, J. S. Miller, G. A. Conner, T. B. Evans, James M. Sellers, William Bell, S. R. Notestine, Frank Logue, Jac. Silvius, John J. Patterson, James Reese, Lucien Kingsley, Levi Hecht.
The lodge-room, with all its contents, including a Masonic library, together with the minutes of the lodge from its organization, was destroyed by the great gire that laid waste one-half of Mifflintown, on th enight of Dec. 31, 1870.
The Past Masters, by service from its establishment up to the present time, are Jacob N. Dewees, William Dent, F. M. Mickey, John A. Rowe, T. M. Leight, E. S. Parker, J. Rodgers, P. L. Greenleaf, J. E. Hallobaugh, David Geib, D. A. Notestine, G. L. Derr, Wm. Bell, L. W. Doty, F. F. Rohm, H. S. Scholl, Jacob Biedler, J. S. Graybill, D. D. Stone, G. W. Heck.
The lodge is one of the best working lodges in the State, and is in a flourishing condition.
MIFFLINTOWN LODGE, No. 131, I.O.O.F., was chartered October 20, 1845, with the following officers: Tobias Kreider, N.G.; Samuel A. Wise, V. G.; Jacob F. Saiger, Sec.; James Reese, Asst. Sec.; William Kerns, Treas. The society has a present membership of one hundred and six, with the following officers: Jacob H. Will, N. G.; Samuel C. Monehan, V. G.; B. R. Mitchell, Sec.; J. S. Wirt, Asst. Sec.; W. J. Haines, Treas.
The first meetings of the society were held in a building on the site of Harley’s store, until Odd-Fellows’ Hall was completed, May 17, 1851, when they took possession and used until it was destroyed by fire, December 31, 1870. The hall was rebuilt on the site in 1872, and has since been occupied by the society.
The following is a list of the names of Past Grand Masters since 1877: Thomas B. Coder, Samuel M. Elliot, Joseph H. Long, Levi Musser, David W. Belford, john T. Mettlan, Jacob G. Snyder, George Goshen, George Doughman, Henry M. Groninger, John A. Rowe, Robert McDonald, Tobias Kreider, Jr., John Hackinberger, Daniel Panabaker, E. W. H. Kreider, Edgar Shallabarger, A. Brittan Fasick, Michael Stoner, John V. Saylor, Jeremiah Lyons, Jacob M. Moyer, John T. Bratton, William F. Snyder, Emil Schott, Benjamin R. Mitchell, James McClellan, Daniel F. Stevens, Wilson J. Zeiders, Eli Farleman, Henry W. Zeiders, John M. Garman, Albert G. Leach, J. Wesley McCahan, Slater W. Allen, William S. Zeiders, Evard O. Kreider, Theophilus Heller, Norman L. Rank, William H. Heller, George S. Conn, William W. Ellis, William J. Marks, William H. J. Hallman, William H. Rogers, Theorus D. Garman, John S. Heckenbarger.
LOST CREEK LODGE, No. 566, I.O.O.F., was chartered May 18, 1860, and was composed of members from Mifflintown Lodge. Its meetings were held, until the fire of December 31, 1870, in the building on the site of the Crystal Palace building. The charter was lost in the fire and a duplicate was granted January 6, 1871. The society has met sicne June 1871, in the Hollabauagh building. It at present contains forty-nine members. The present officers are E. D. Warner, N. G.; T. L. Kinser, V. G.; W. E. Auman, Sec.; R. L. Guss, Treas.
The following is a list of Past Grands: William M. Allison, W. E. Auman, Jacob Beidler, C. B. Bartley, S. H. Brown, G. W. Berger, E. J. Gross, R. L. Guss, A. J. Greer, D. W. Hawk, J. E. Hollabaugh, C. B. Horning, S. V. Kelly, Ed. L. Kepner, Ephraim Lauver, I. W. Long, J. C. Moser, S. L. McCachren, W. A. McCahan, E. J. Naugle, Robert A. Reynolds, H. W. Stahl, William Ulsh, Samuel Warner, John M. Weimer, E. D. Warner, William A. Wise, N. Wertheimer.
COCOLAMUS LODGE, No. 397, K. of P.—This lodge was chartered May 22, 1873, with ten charger members, and has at present fifty-two members. Meetings are held in Odd-Fellows’ Hall. The present officers are: Chancellor, S. E. Kinser; V. C., J. G. Hackenberger; Prelate, William M. Allison; Mat. A., A. H. Fasich; K. of R. and S., B. R. Mitchell; M. of E., W. J. Zeiders; M. of F., John G. Hackenberger. The following is a list of the names of the Past Chancellors: William F. Snyder, E. S. Parker, L. W. Doty, John W. Speddy, B. F. Schwier, Robert McMeen, C. McClellan, B. R. Mitchell, J. R. M. Fink, John Hackenberger, George Brindle, George Doughman, William C. Laird, W. W. Zeiders, J. T. Bratton, A. B. Fasick, J. B. M. Todd, William Dietrich, D. W. Hawk, W. S. Zeiders, Jacob Beidler, Jacob Wise, J. G. Snyder, S. B. Caveny, A. H. McKnight, Philip Bishop, A. G. Leach, S. B. Loudon.
GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC—LIEUT. DAVID H. WILSON POST, No. 134.—The preliminary meeting for the organization was held June 19 and 26, 1879. A meeting was held for the election of officers, and arrangements made for the use of Odd-Fellows’ Hall until rooms could be fitted for use. The first regular meeting was held July 10, 1879, and the post organized and officers mustered. A hall was fitted up in the second story of Graybill’s Block, and occupied September 10th in that year, and has since been used. The Commanders of the post have been Louis E. Atkinson, J. W. Hughes, T. D. Garman, Cornelius McClellan, William H. Rogers and S. Brady Caveny. The present officers are: Commander, S. Brady Caveny; Senior Vice-Commander, H. W. Knisely; Junior Vice-Commander, John Etka; Quartermaster, Cornelius McClellan; Adjutant, William M. Allison. The post has a membership of one hundred and thirty-eight.
IMPROVED ORDER OF RED MEN.—IRIQUOIS TRIBE, No. 42.—This tribe was chartered on the “ 17th Sun of the Cold Moon, G. S. C. 380.” It has at present fifty-nine members, and meetings are held in Graybill’s Hall. The present officers are: Sachem, W. B. Thompson; S. Sagamore, R. L. Cramer; Chief of Records, Albert Hackenberger; Keeper of Wamput, John Hackenberter; Prophet, W. H. McDonald; Representative to Great Council, J. C. Creigh; District Deputy Grand Sachem, Albert Hackenberger.
PATTERSON COUNCIL, No. 200, O.U. of A.M., was chartered April 16, 1869. Their meetings have been held in Hollabaugh’s building and in Patterson until 1883, since which time thy have occupied Odd-Fellows’ Hall. They have a present fifty members.
THE ODD-FELLOWS’ HALL ASSOCIATION was incorporated April 6, 1850, for the purpose of erecting a hall for the use of societies. The present lot was purchased and a two-story brick building was erected, at a cost of twenty-four hundred dollars, and completed May 17, 1851. The second story was fitted for society uses. The building was destroyed in the fire of December 31, 1870, and rebuilt of brick at a cost of seven thousand dollars. The second and third floors were fitted for lodge-rooms, and is now occupied by Mifflintown Lodge, No. 131, I.O.O.F., Union Lodge, No. 354, A. Y. M., and Cocolamus Lodge, No. 397, K. of P.
The association numbers sixty stockholders, lodges and individuals, and Mifflintown Lodge owns nearly one-half the stock. The officers are T. V. Irwin, Pres.; William M. Allison, Sec.; Frederick Espenshade, Treas.; T. V. Irwin, B. R. Mitchell, W. J. Haines, Trustees.
MANUFACTURES.—The cabinet-shop and warehouse of William F. Snyder is located on lot No. 17 of the original plat of the town, and was the site of David Davidson’s tavern. The lot was purchased by John McClure of James and William Harris, April 8, 1796, and by him sold to David Davidson the 23d of the same month. He kept the log tavern several years and rented it to many. The post-office was kept there from 1808 to 1812. In 1843, Mrs. Anthony Sandoe purchased the property and tore down the old tavern and erected from its timbers part of the present shop, and began cabinet-making and continued many years, after which his son-in-law, William F. Snyder, assumed the business and still continues.
In 1867, G. H. Showers and H. S. Scholl erected on Washington Street two buildings,--one forty-five by thirty-two feet, three stories in height; the other forty by thirty-two feet, two stories,--and began the manufacture of buggies, phaetons, sleighs, etc. This has been continued to the present time, and about one hundred carriages and fifty sleighs are manufactured annually.
SOLDIERS’MONUMENT.—A soldiers’ monument was erected, at a cost of twelve hundred dollars, in 1871, in the park, in front of the court-house. The shaft is about eighteen feet in height and is surmounted by an eagle. The inscription is as follows:
“In memory of the Soldiers from Juniata Co., Pa. who died in the war of the Great Rebellion in defense of the Union of their fathers.”
A TERRIFIC STORM occurred in Mifflintown and vicinity on Friday, July 11, 1879. About four o’clock in the afternoon dense masses of dark clouds gathered in the northwest and southwest and approached each other, accompanied by rain, vivid lightning and the sharp rattle of thunder. About half-past four o’clock the clouds met within a mile of the town, and, with a mighty roar, swept towards it from west to east. It raged for fifteen or twenty minutes with indescribable fury, hurling down everything movable, wrenching trees up by the roots, and building from their foundations. Walls were thrown down and roofs, piazzas and fences were torn from their places and hurled in every direction by the resistless force. Mrs. Criswell, a lady of seventy-nine years of age, was the only person killed. A heavy timber was driven endwise through the Allen house (in which she was sitting), striking her on the temple, killing her instantly. The Presbyterian Church was almost destroyed and the Methodist and Lutheran Churches badly damaged.
The storm passed Fermanagh township to Lewistown, doing much damage. It was narrow in its range as in Patterson but little damage was done. At five o’clock the sky was clear and the sun shining as if nothing had occurred.
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© 2013 by Michael Milliken
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