AREA HISTORY: History of Adams County, Chapter XLV, Adams County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/adams/ _______________________________________________ History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co., 1886 _______________________________________________ Part III, History of Adams County, Pages 333-341 CHAPTER XLV. STRABAN TOWNSHIP. Rock Creek forms the western line of Straban Township, Conowago Creek a part of its northern and eastern lines, and Sweet Run a portion of its southeastern line. The water-shed is clearly defined. Streams, north, east and southeast of Hunterstown, flow north; and west of that village they course to Rock Creek. The northeastern part of the township is very rugged. There, also, is the Pine Ridge, for years irreclaimable, but now reduced to fine farming land. In this neighborhood the altitude is calculated at about 600 feet. Throughout the surface rolls heavily; yet the farms are models of agricultural wealth-givers. The elevation above the Atlantic, at New Chester, is 552 feet, and at Hunterstown, 578 feet. Copper ore was mined by Galloway Bros., near Hunterstown, in 1884, and shipped to the smelting works at Dillsburg. Abraham King and John Kain were the only retailers of foreign merchandise in 1824, according to a sworn statement made by Constable James King. The number of tax payers (1886) is 534; value of real estate, $612,979; number of horses, etc., 589; number of cows, etc., 635; value of money at interest, $84,627; value of trades and professions, $19,635; number of carriages, 397; of gold watches, 12; silver watches, 1; of acres of timber land, 2,364. The population in 1800 was 987; in 1820, 1,403, including 4 slaves, forty-nine free colored and the 103 inhabitants of Hunterstown; in 1830, 1,308; in 1830, 1,375; in 1850, 1,433 (13 colored); in 1860, 1,466 (6 colored); in 1870, 1,547 (11 colored); and in 1880, 1,712. Straban Township, through its delegate in convention of November 4, 1834, voted for the adoption of the school law; the State appropriation was $143.54, and the tax, $138.48. In 1807 the first contract for a stone bridge was made with William Maxwell for one across Rock Creek, just east of Gettysburg, length 60 feet, three arches, cost $2,400. The bridge, still standing at Wolf’s on the New Chester road, was built in 1813, over the Conowago, by Jacob Hawn for $2,195. It is 80 feet long, and has three arches. In 1840 John Camp erected a wooden bridge over the Great Conowago, on the road from Hunterstown to Latshaw’s mill for $1,350. The railroad was completed to Gulden’s Station in June, 1858. The assessment of Straban Township, made in 1799 for the year 1800, gives the value or property at $132,197, on which a tax of 30 cents per $100 was collected by Garret Van Arsdal and George Williamson. John Brinkerhoff was assessor. The thirty-one single men in the township at that date were taxed $1 each. Henry Ashbaugh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $50 Widow Aumerman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Henry Aumerman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 James Allon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Abram Bercaw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,100 Richard Brown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,241 George Bercaw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,310 Alex Bogle, s. m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 729 Eliza Bogle, widow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . James Bell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,144 George Bolden, shoe-maker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 John Beeher, distiller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,019 Widow Bodine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 907 John Bowdine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Henry Black . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 William Bogle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,109 George Rercaw, s. m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 830 John Brough . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 816 George Brinkerhoff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,373 John Brinkerhoff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Peter Baitter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,500 George Bryars, not taxed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alex. Clark, not taxed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jacob Cassatt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,085 John Cameron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Widow Campbell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 569 Samuel Cassatt, shoe-maker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Major Robert Campbell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,324 David Cassatt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,940 George Cashman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 762 Christian Cashman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 832 John Cashman, nailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 Archibald Coulter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 976 Hugh Campbell, schoolmaster not taxed . . . . . . . . . John Dixon, distiller, squire . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,600 Samuel Dixon, s. m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,094 Adam Davis, blacksmith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 Jacob Deitrick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,621 Elizabeth Dunwoody . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 587 Andrew Dushain, tailor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 David Demaree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 572 Adam Ersick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,020 Andrew Irvin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 547 James Fleming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,050 William Fleming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,008 John Felty, s. m., tanner, formerly Clinsefelty . . . . 297 Martin Fry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Abram Fickes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 808 John Gallatine, tailor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Robert Graham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 935 William Gilliland, judge* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,032 George Gunder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 for Squire Russell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,884 John Graft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,300 Philip Graft, distiller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,343 Stephen Griffin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,445 Edward Hunt, schoolmaster for. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 William King, lot in Hunterstown . . . . . . . . . . 70 George Hosler, wagon-maker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 878 Peter Hick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 705 Samuel Haddon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Samuel Houlsworth, s. m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,250 Alex Hamilton, not taxed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alex Hamilton, s. m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 852 Capt. William Hamilton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170 George Hays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,148 Henry Huffman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,504 Daniel Huffman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,700 Dr. James Hamilton, s.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170 Jacob Haingst, blacksmith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148 Samuel Hays, Sr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 614 Samuel Hays, Jr., distiller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 670 Edward Hagen† . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 Aaron Haggeman, weaver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Arthur Harbaugh, shoe-maker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 George Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,273 Ludwick Hartman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Henry Hoke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 Jacob Kipp, not taxed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . George Knopp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . George Lashell’s, tavern and store . . . . . . . . . . . 1,673 Adam Livingston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,000 David Little . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 528 William Long, s. m., for Rev. Henderson . . . . . . . . 1,111 Henry Little . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Daniel Longnecker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 788 Gilbert Leonard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,138 William Long, Sr., grist, saw-mill and three slaves . . 2,211 Robert McIntire, weaver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 John McGuflin, weaver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 John Morrow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 956 Michael Moret . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 760 John McClure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,118 John McClelland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 for John Patterson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,104 Christian Mieshe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,163 Capt. Robert McIlhenny, not taxed . . . . . . . . . . . Jacob Muskenunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,430 George Muskenunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 for Widow Crowell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132 William McGrew† . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,180 John Montfort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 982 Jacob May . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,426 Andrew Miller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Daniel Montieth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 778 Henry Martzall, formerly Peter Sharp property . . . . . 774 William McMaster, weaver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 for Anthony Deardorff . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 Samuel Neely, not taxed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Neely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 George Oyster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,673 Samuel Orsburn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,072 John Rattorff, weaver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Christian Ropp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214 Samuel M. Reed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David Routzong, not taxed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Routzong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 920 David Ross . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,563 Jacob Rex, s. m., carpenter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 Peter Rufelberger, blacksmith . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271 George Rumble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 896 Jacob Rumble, weaver for John Myers . . . . . . . . . . 180 John Rumble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Henry Rumble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 John Rinehart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,100 Peter Rogers, weaver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Widow Rossler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tobias Starry for Simpson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,955 Henry Snyder for Squire Breen . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,960 John Sample . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,973 Andrew Sigler or Zeigler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,330 Thomas Sanders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Henry Saltzgiver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,478 Lawrence Sneeringer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250 George Spangler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,318 Jacob Spangler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 James Starling, weaver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Lashel’s half lot in Hunterstown . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Judge William Scott, Bedford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,338 William Sweet, not taxed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David Scott . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,145 George Strossell, blacksmith, formerly Buamgarter . . . 100 Francis Stallsmith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,073 Elizabeth Tate, widow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,073 Adam Tawney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 753 Hannah Tawney, widow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Philip Thomas, distiller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,748 Jacob Taughenbaugh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 for Val Fickes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 496 Samuel Tagert, formerly S. Reed . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,028 Dines Vandine, weaver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 David Vanderbilt, s. m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 630 Thomas Vantine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,000 Garret Van Arsdal, formerly Lawrence Montfort . . . . . 1,000 Isaac Van Arsdal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,000 Stephen Wible, for Wilsons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,330 William Walker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 480 George Williamson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,308 Peter Williamson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170 Thomas Wilson, s. m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,456 Robert Wilson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 774 William Wilson, not taxed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jacob Wart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,023 George Wart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170 Burke Wart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160 Moses Wright . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 James Whitford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 John Yong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 571 Adam Yeage, Sr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,314 Adam Yeage, Jr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 * Including one slave. † One slave. The single men residing in the township, other than those named above, were Joshua Bercaw, John Baitler, William Cashman, Jacob Colesmith, weaver; Jacob Cassatt, David Demaree, tanner; Daniel Demaree, tanner; Henry Gallentine, tailor; John Gilliland, William Long, Jr., Alex. Long, James McCafferty, George McCause, John Moses, John McMaster, James McGlaughlin, weaver; Neal McCoy, William Proctor, John Proctor, Andrew Rassler, William Ross, tailor; John Saltgiver, William Sterling, weaver; John Tawney, Christopher Thomas, James Thompson, Cornelius Van Arsdal, Garret Van Arsdal, John Yeage and John Yeagy. In June, 1758, there was a review of Adams County soldiers twenty-two miles west of York, and one also at Hunterstown. David Hunter, the founder of Hunterstown, was captain of the militia in 1758, and served under Gen. Forbes in the expedition against Fort Du Quesne. George Stevenson, writing in May, 1758, to R. Peters, secretary of the province, states that he appointed David Hunter and Benjamin Smith, of Hunterstown, a committee to meet Sir John St. Clair. The National Guard, a company of forty-five men, was organized at Hunterstown February 12, 1859, with Dr. C. E. Goldsborough, captain, William N. Sanders, lieutenant. The soldiers from Straban, who answered the call of April, 1861, were Theo. C. Norris, third sergeant; William F. Weikert, and James W. Ford. They were mustered in with company E, second regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. In the winter of 1867-68 the Straban Infantry was organized. A part of this township belonged to the “Manor of the Maske,” as laid out for the Penns in 1740, and shared in all the fortunes of that manor. Among the entries of land made prior to 1842 and recorded April 2, 1792, were those of William Stephenson, in May, 1741; Andrew Levenstone, in May, 1740, and John Simple or Sample, same year; a few other settlers in the manor may have owned lands in this section; but there is no specific record extant. Outside the manor lines were the settlers, whose death record is given in the history of the old Pines Church. The “Pines” Presbyterian Church, a pioneer concern indeed, was contemporary with the old church of “Great Conowago.” In the eastern end of the present St. Paul’s Cemetery this church stood until 1803, when it was removed to give place to the first Union log church building at that point. Among the Irish Presbyterians interred there, headstones were erected to those named in the following list, name and date of death being given: William Long, 1806; John Monteith, 1789; Jennet, his wife, 1791; Alex McIntire, 1786; Marget Kerr, 1753; Archibald Douglass, 1762; Hugh Caldwell, 1785; Josiah Kerr, 1784; Mary, his wife, 1801; Mary Kerr, 1814; George Horn, 1832; Arch Coulter, 1806; Susanna Coulter, 1814; ELinor Coulter, 1815; Martha Coulter, 1811; Robert Sturgeon, 1759; Robert Lorimer, 1773; Margaret, wife of Robert McCorkle, 1809; William McFarland, 1782; Thomas McCauslin, 1789; Nanie McFarland, 1782. The “Pines” or St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, on the Hunterstown and New Chester road, was commenced April 27, 1861, and completed in the fall. Close by it is the old cemetery of the district, and within this village of the dead is the still older cemetery referred to in the history of the Pines Presbyterian Church. Here, late in the last century, a number of the early Irish settlers built a log church, which was razed in 1803, when the first Union Lutheran and Reformed Church was built, which continued in use until the present house was erected. The materials of the old house were used in building a house at New Chester now belonging to John Kuhn. The ministry of this church, from 1803, is identical with that of the other Union Lutheran Churches in this district. The Methodist Episcopal Society* of Hunterstown dates back for membership to 1739, when Revs. Henry Furlong and John M. Jones visited the neighborhood and preached to the few Methodists then to be found here. A century later the first steps were taken to organize a society, when Revs. Josiah Forrest and Wesley Howe preached in one of the houses in the neighborhood. In later years the Gettysburg preachers held services in the old schoolhouse near the eastern end of the village, and from that time forward this church has been an institution here. The brick church, erected at Hunterstown in 1858 by the Methodist Society, was dedicated January 19, 1859. This building was blown down September 3, 1879, and in its place was erected the present house, dedicated April 4, 1880. The church belongs to York Springs Circuit, which was formed out of Gettysburg in 1844. The German Reformed Society of New Chester dates back to 1803, when the Pines Union Church was erected. In 1862 the Stone Church at New Chester was begun and the building was dedicated in March, 1863. Around it is a well kept cemetery, and the church itself is a substantial and neat building. * A great Methodist Episcopal camp meeting was held on the James Brinkerhoff farm three miles from Gettysburg, on the York Pike in August, 1828. HUNTERSTOWN. This place was platted in 1749 or 1750 by David Hunter, who came from Ireland about 1741, and cast his fortunes with the Pine Ridge settlers. It was known as “Woodstock” in early years, and about the close of the last century was called “Straban Center.” During the Revolution this little settlement was “the hot-bed of rebellion.” But fortunately for its history, the rebels opposed foreign oppression, and fought with such prowess throughout the Revolution, that Lafayette himself said: “It is no surprise the French were defeated twenty years ago, when the late oppressor of the colonies brought forward such yeomanry against them.” The people were part and parcel of the Marsh Creek settlement. The village is the center of a rich country, possesses a few general stores, a hotel, two churches, and a number of private houses. Granite Hill Station, on the Hanover Junction, Hanover & Gettysburg Railroad is the shipping point. Hunterstown postoffice was established about 1826 with George Armor postmaster. In April, 1858, E. M. Felty was appointed to the office, vice Simon Melhorn (deceased). Mrs. Jane King has been postmistress here several years. In January, 1805, the 530 acres of the deceased Stephen Giffen, together with a good orchard, buildings, etc., were offered for sale. The old Joseph McKelip brick tavern at Hunterstown was purchased in 1818 by Thomas McKelip, who carried on the tavern and mercantile business. John Gourlay and Abram King were appointed a Savannah relief committee at Hunterstown in February, 1820. CHURCHES AND CEMETERIES. Great Conowago Presbyterian Church-This church is located five miles northeast of Gettysburg, near the village of Hunterstown, and takes its name from Conowago Creek. The date of the organization of this church can not be exactly determined. It was, doubtless, organized about the time of the settlement of the Scotch-Irish in this part of the country. The earliest recorded mention of it is found in the minutes of the Presbytery of Donegal in 1740, and from this period we date its history. For a number of years the church seems to have had no settled pastor. Religious services were kept up by supplies appointed by the Presbytery; among them we find the names of Revs. Samuel Caven, Lyon, Steel and Hindman. In 1749 this congregation called its first pastor, Rev. Samuel Thompson, who accepted this call. He remained as pastor of this church for a period of thirty years, when, on account of the infirmities of age, he resigned. He died in 1787. In 1780 a call was made out for the Rev. Joseph Henderson, promising him in the faithful discharge of his duties 697 bushels of wheat for his salary. He accepted the call and was ordained and installed June 20, 1781. The first church erected by this congregation was built between the years 1743 and 1749. It was a log building, near the site of the present church. It was primitive in every way; rough benches were used for seats; there were no stoves in the building; the only heating apparatus was a private arrangement called a “foot-stove,” a sheet-iron box, in which was placed a quantity of charcoal embers, and the whole encased in a wooden box, sometimes elaborately carved. This the worshiper carried with him into his pew, and upon it placed his feet. One of two specimens of these portable furnaces may still be seen in the neighborhood. In the sixth year of Mr. Henderson’s pastorate, the old log (church) gave way to the present building, which is of stone, and shows by the style of its architecture that it belongs to a past age. In the front gable of the building is a circular stone with this inscription: “Re. Ioseph Henderson Meetind House, 1787.” Although the mosses of almost a century have gathered on the foundations of this church, the walls appear as firm and perfect as when first built. Mr. Henderson continued to be pastor of this congregation for eight years after the erection of the church. In the year 1795 he resigned. From the retirement of Mr. Henderson to 1800 the church was without a pastor. In 1798 these churches were united in one charge, and in 1800 they made out the call for Dr. McConaughy.* Each church was to have half of Dr. McConaughy’s time, and pay half of his salary, the whole of which was $400. Dr. McConaughy was a native of Adams County, born in Menallen Township September 20, 1775. He graduated at Dickinson College with the first honors of his class, and was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of New Castle October 5, 1797. Dr. McConaughy was pastor of this church from 1800 to 1832. The next pastor of this church was the Rev. James C. Watson. D. D., who was installed pastor for half his time in connection with the church of Gettysburg, which had the other half of his time, October 14, 1832. Dr. Watson resigned this charge in 1849 and with his resignation the union between this church and the church of Gettysburg in one charge ceased. During the vacancy which followed the resignation of Dr. Watson, and the calling of the next pastor, the church building was repaired and remodeled somewhat. The entrance was changed from the side to the end. A vestibule and choir gallery were added, and the old goblet-shaped pulpit, with its sounding board, gave way to one of more modern style. After a vacancy of little over one year, the congregation united in a call for the Rev. I. N. Hays, of Cannonsburg, Penn., which he accepted, and was installed October 10, 1850. In 1854 Mr. Hays responded to a call to the church of Middle Spring near Shippensburg, Cumberland County and the Presbytery dissolved the relation June 13, 1854. This was the shortest pastorate in the history on the church. Here occurred a vacancy of four years, during which the church weakened in numerical strength partly on account of immigration to other parts, but very much owing, no doubt, to its being without a pastor. A union was sought with Lower Marsh Creek, and these two churches were formed into a pastoral charge, the agreement being made June 6, 1857. In August of the same year a call was made out for the pastoral services of Rev. John R. Warner. Mr. Warner accepted the call, and entered upon his duties as pastor in November, 1857, but was not installed till April 23, 1858. During his connection with these churches the battle of Gettysburg was fought, and both of the church edifices were used for a short time as hospitals for the enemy. Mr. Warner sent his sermons, and many papers valuable to the congregations, to Chambersburg for safe keeping. These were all lost in the burning of that place July 30, 1864. Mr. Warner resigned this charge in 1867. For two years from this time this church was again without a pastor, but not without preaching. Rev. E. Ferrier, D. D., then a professor in Pennsylvania College, supplied it most of the time. January 23, 1869, a call was made out for the present pastor, Rev. W. S. Van Cleve for half his time-Lower Marsh Creek to have the other half. Mr. Van Cleve entered upon the duties of the pastorate April 1, 1869. The call was formally presented and accepted at a meeting of the Presbytery of Carlisle in Shippensburg, on the second Tuesday of April, 1869, and in May following the relation was consummated by the following committee: Rev. John A. Crawford, D.D., I. N. Hays and I. M. Patterson. Mr. Van Cleve still continues in the relation. * Afterward president of Washington College, Penn. NEW CHESTER. New Chester or Pinetown, and in early days called “Martzallville,” was surveyed for Henry Martzall in 1804 (then owner of the Peter Sharp tract) a year after Union Church was erected on Pine Ridge, and fifty-five years after the old Presbyterian Church was built on the same site. Theodore Taughinbaugh was appointed first postmaster at New Chester in 1834. The village is located in the valley of the great Conowago and partly on the side of Pine Ridge. The location possesses many of those pleasing features which valley, hill and river confer. In the lower part of the village is the new German Reformed Church, built in 1862-63. The hotel known as the “Kuhn Temperance House,” a few stores and a number of pleasant homes make up New Chester of to-day. PLAINVIEW. This is the name given in 1876 to a postal hamlet near the north line of the township. R. McIlhenny is postmaster. GRANITE HILL. This village was so named when it was laid out in 1858, and the railroad was built to this point. It is also a post-town, with A. Hoke in charge.