AREA HISTORY: History of Adams County, Chapter XXXI, 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 247-261 CHAPTER XXXI. FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP. The streams of Franklin Township comprise Conowago Creek, which rises in the springs west of St. Ignatius Church, flows northeast to the Long farm, where it forms the Bend, and this, with the continuation of stream southeast to a point just north of Arendtsville, for the eastern half of the northern boundary of the township; Conococheague Creek, which rises on the west slope of Piney Hill near the old saw-mills, flows southwest to Birch Run, and leaves the county just west of Graeffenburg; McDowell’s Run, which enters Black’s Creek near the old Garbauch mill, flows west and leaves the county near Graeffenburg; Little Marsh Creek forms part of the southern line of the township; Marsh Creek, so celebrated for giving drink to the true Revolutionists who settled along its banks in the first half of the eighteenth century, which rises in Poplar Springs (with feeders from Kane’s farm and Knouse’s farm away up in South Mountain, and streams west of Arendtsville), flows southeast to Seven Stars, where it forms the southeastern boundary of the township. Crystal rivulets flow everywhere, and it is not uncommon to find householders leading the water from some spring in the mountain into their homes and gardens, as is the case at Stockslagger’s hotel in Cashtown. The lands east of South Mountain, north and south of the Gettysburg and Chambersburg road, are exceptionally good, though rolling heavily. Buchanan Valley claims some large and beautiful farms, and even in the Conococheague Valley some fine land is cultivated. The elevations are Arendt’s mill, 780 feet; Cashtown, 800 feet; Graeffenburg, 1,020 feet; McKnightstown, 656 feet; Mummasburg, 542 feet. Hilltown is the same elevation as Arendt’s mill; Arendtsville is 620 feet. The highest point on the Chambersburg Pike is east of Newman’s, being 1,440 feet. On the Cold Springs road near Graeffenburg the altitude is 1,770 feet, and the highest peak of the South Mountain in Pennsylvania, one mile south of Caledonia Springs. The geological outcrop shows shale containing magnetic ore two miles northwest of McKnightstown, ore with crystallized calcite, white argillaceous sandstone, green chloritic top rock, calcite in ore, decomposed clay shale, calcareous conglomerate, red sandstone, baked mud rock, limestone, ore slightly magnetic chlorite and quartz, slaty orthofelsite near Arendtsville, also pearly crystalline schist, red quartzite, jaspery orthofelsite, argillite, finely laminated orthofelsite (northwest of Cole’s mill), red quartoze schist, copper rock, diabase with stellate crystals, fine ground granite rock, feldspar in chloritic slate. The ore bed on the Adam Winter farm was worked by McCormick & Co. in 1874, and shipments made. Iron ore was taken in 1867 from a ridge on the farm of Peter Comfort in Franklin Township. Later a mine was worked by the Wrightsville Iron Co. The indications of iron ore round Miltenberger’s mill in the South Mountain drew some attention in the winter of 1869-70. On John Baker’s place, beyond Cashtown, Harry Yingling, of Gettysburg, found a vein of asbestos, seven feet below the surface, in 1884. In 1881 a circular excavation was discovered in the Buchanan Valley, twelve feet in diameter, six feet deep, with trees, twenty inches in diameter, growing round the embankment, and, in the hollow, the stump of what was once a large tree. The old settlers say it belongs to pre-revolutionary times. Near Noah Sheely’s there is an old burying ground, but the stones do not bear inscriptions. It is thought that the tenants of the graves were Indians. Just north of the United Brethren Church Aaron Sheely examined a mound, but found nothing to show that any one was buried there. Near Rock Top there was, in 1879, a chestnut tree measuring twenty-two feet in girth, two feet from the ground. On the Butt farm there were two large chestnut trees twenty-one feet in girth, and thirty feet clear to the first limb. The other was eighteen feet seven inches in girth. On the Deardorff farm is a chestnut tree eighteen feet, eight inches in girth, and a white oak tree fourteen feet in girth. John F. Hopkell and George Hossler were engaged in selling foreign merchandise alone, and Thomas McKnight and Thomas Wilson sold foreign merchandise, wines and liquors in 1824. The population in 1800 was 1,023; in 1810, 889-472 males, 390 females, 3 slaves and 24 free colored persons; in 1820, 1,456, including 47 colored; in 1830, 1,588; in 1840, 1,698; in 1850, 1,806, including 19 colored; in 1860, 2,115, including 23 colored; in 1870, 2,176, including 13 colored; and in 1180, 2,499. The number of taxpayers (1886) is 754; value of real estate, $657,938; number of horses, etc., 506; of cows, etc., 677; value of moneys at interest, $23,654; value of trades and professions, $24,460; number of pleasure carriages, 231; gold watches, 10; silver watches, 2; acres of timber land, 18,499. The entries of land in the portion of “The Manor of Maske” prior to 1842 were legalized in 1802, as related in the history of Cumberland Township. The names and dates of entry are given as follows: Thomas Hosak, March, 1740 John Buchanan, May, 1740 John Hosack, March, 1740 Robert Black’s heirs, March, 1738 John Boyd, March, 1740 Alexander McKeen, March, 1738 W. Boyd and B. Smith, March, 1740 Hugh McKeen, March, 1738 James Wilson, May, 1741 William Quiet and Son, April, 1741 Margaret Young, April, 1741 James Biddle, May, 1740 Robert Johnson, April, 1741 Col. Hance Hamilton, for farm, April, 1741 Henry Pearson, April, 1741 David Frazier, March, 1738 Duncan McDonnell, April, 1740 Hannah Leslie, April, 1741 Mary McMullen, Mary, 1741 John Miller, April, 1741 James Erwin, September, 1739 John Steel, September, 1740 James Russell, May, 1840 Henry Cotton, April, 1741 John Russell, May, 1840 Walter Buchanan, September, 1739 Thomas Nealson, March, 1741 Margaret Buchanan, May, 1740 Joseph Wilson, March, 1738 A petition similar to that from Hamiltonban was presented to the Pennsylvania Council in 1789, signed by William Russell, Samuel Cross, Thomas Cross, Samuel Porter, James McGlaughlin, Matthew McNutt, Robert McNutt, William Orr and John Orr, asking for a resurvey of that portion of “Carroll’s Delight” in Franklin Township. The petition was considered, and the same half justice meted out to them as was accorded to their neighbors in the “Manor of Maske.” The assessment of this township, made in 1799, gives the following name and trades and assessed valuations of property: Peter Arendt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $818 John Arendt, hotel and blacksmith . . . . . . . . . . 678 Nicholas Beasacker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 761 George Beasacker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 654 John Brugh, hotel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251 Andrew Beanwood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 983 Adam Buer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 Michael Bushey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 961 Benjamin Boyd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 888 Christopher Baker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 Archibald Boyd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 731 Michael Barr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 620 Nicholas Barr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 396 Abraham Boyers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 533 Michael Bittinger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 544 Jonas Boyers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 867 Rev. John Black . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,675 James Black . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,317 Samuel Culbertson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 547 Martin Carbaugh, Sr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 Christopher Carbaugh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,232 Thomas Cross . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 779 John Cimes, Jr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Nicholas Candle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Samuel Cross* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,617 Samuel Cobean† . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,141 John Clark, grist and saw-mill . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,874 Joseph Cornebour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Lewis Chamberlin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 675 Jacob Candle, weaver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Martin Carbaugh, grist and saw-mill . . . . . . . . . 497 Peter Comfort, blacksmith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343 John Carbaugh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 459 William Ewing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,129 David Fretz, fulling-mill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 701 Leonard Flower . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,047 Leonard Flower, Jr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Jacob Freet, stiller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Falty Flower . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 646 John Foster, merchant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203 John Fletcher¹ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 John Gross . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 654 Thomas Gilchrist, tannery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 873 James Gilchrist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 639 Matthias Glass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 749 George Graft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297 Hart George, weaver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Jacob Gilbert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,648 Charles Good . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 794 Andrew Gilwix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332 Hugh Gallagher, saw-mill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121 John Hart‡ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 676 John Hartman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 741 Henry Hoover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,218 Christopher Howlinger‡ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,287 Andrew Hanselman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 581 Peter Hoofman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 467 Henry Hosack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 807 Walter Jenkins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 569 Moses Jenkins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 536 Peter Ickes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Robert Kidd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310 James King . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 617 James Keve, tailor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 965 John Luelsberger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,119 Henry Lanser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 459 Joseph Linard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 William Laird . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 744 John Laird . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 654 Anthony Loop, joiner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Henry Miller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 741 Adam Minter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 975 James McKnight‡ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 698 Adam Miller, potter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361 John Moyer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 456 Hugh McGaughey, blacksmith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255 Martin Muckley² . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,126 John Muckley, blacksmith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Peter Muckley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Daniel Muckley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 901 Samuel McGowan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 Moses McClean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,071 John McClean, tanner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 Martin Minter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 581 James McGlaughlin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 881 Samuel McMullen, blacksmith . . . . . . . . . . . . . 657 John Miller, oil-mill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403 Michael Malone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Peter Morritz, tavern place . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,200 William Malone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Andrew Miller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 Jacob Mondorff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 522 David McClure (or McElwee) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250 Estate of James Johnson (deceased) . . . . . . . . . . 1,015 Jacob Middlecoff,‡ grist and saw-mill . . . . . . . . 2,511 John Mossman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 William McDonnell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 998 Joseph Morrison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,227 Robert McMordie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,148 Peter Mark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Nicholas Mark,‡ saw-mill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,767 James Marshall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Samuel Marshall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 650 John Milligan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 George Orr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 487 Nathaniel Paxton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 886 James Paxton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 536 Baltzer Pitzer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,238 Samuel Porter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 802 Peter Piper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,081 David Rife . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,365 Samuel Russell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 738 Joshua Russell,‡ hotel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,423 Samuel Rusell, carpenter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 823 John Russell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,137 John Ross, cooper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,248 Jacob Ritter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 Jacob Shank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,296 Robert Stewart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 481 Caspar Shiffler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 628 Martin Snider . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 833 David Strite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 852 John Stanley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,138 Widow Stockleger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 968 John Stockleger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 798 George Satlzgiver, fulling-mill . . . . . . . . . . . 293 John Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 831 John Smelsor, miller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Conrad Suttle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,092 George Sheakley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,047 John Shull, blacksmith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Samuel Trone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Henry Toot, tailor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 John Stoner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 905 Jacob Smith, nailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 William Tailor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 Alexander Thompson, hotel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 624 Abraham Whetmore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,200 Mathias Wallen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 870 Joseph Wilson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 912 Marmaduke Wilson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,065 Benjamin Workman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Jacob Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 534 William Walter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171 Henry Walter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 837 George Walter, blacksmith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 John White . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 374 Nicholas Young . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,004 Israel Irvine, tailor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 * Stone house and one slave, $75. † Two slaves, $160. ¹ One slave, $80. ‡ Stone house. ² Spelled Mickley. The total assessed valuation made by James Gilchrist, Thomas Ewing and Nicholas Mark in December, 1798, for the year 1799, was $99,960. Charles Good and William Laird were the collectors. The single men residing in the township at this time were assessed $1 each. They are named as follows: William Craig, George Kerbough, Henry Walter, John Glass, Matthias Glass, Adam Snider, Martin Snider, Moses David; Daniel Knouse, blacksmith; Peter Wagoner, shoe-maker; Andrew McLone; John Kerr, shoe-maker; William Fossitt; John Kerbough, shoe-maker; Peter Piper, joiner; Edward Fosler, nailer; John Howlinger, George Todd, William Laird, John Laird; Jacob Saum, shoe-maker; John Cobean, Robert Laird; Baltzer Minter, weaver; Thomas Moore, William McCleary; Robert Marshall, tanner; Robert Morrison; Sample Ross, cooper; John Shiftler, Samuel Willsor, Archibald Fleckher, William Stewart, P. Stockleger and Abel Finley. The capture of Mary Jamison in Buchanan Valley was effected by the Indians in 1758. Mrs. Robert Bleakney, residing in Buchanan Valley in 1879 made the following reference to its history: “When the Indians threatened the settlements the Bleakneys removed to Conowago Township; the Kilkennons (who lived where Samuel McKenrick’s house stands), father and seven strong boys with mother and girls, intended to remain, and went to the blockhouse, which stood on the Hartman farm back of Arendtsville, but on the approach of the Indians fled. Thomas Jamison’s family, his wife Jane (Erwin), resided on the old Joseph I. Lever’s farm (now belonging to Francis Cole), from 1743, when they came from Ireland, to 1755. The father, mother and daughter were carried off; a hired man named Robert Buck was killed, but the two little Jamison boys crept into a hollow log and escaped. Mary Jamison married an Indian.” Thomas Jamison moved in 1754 to Buchanan Valley and must have been among the other Irish settlers on Marsh Creek for the ten years preceding. James Bleakney, grandfather of Robert, died in 1821, aged ninety-eight years. Mary Jamison was born on the Atlantic after her parents left Ireland in 1743. Immediately after the abduction of the Jamisons a Mr. Fields headed a relief party of neighbors (numbering six men) and started in pursuit. The savages realized the advance of avengers, and, to better enable them to escape, turned on their captives and killed Thomas Jamison; Jane (Ervin) Jamison, his wife; Betsy, his daughter; Robert and Matthew, their sons; Mrs. Buck and two of her children. They spared Mary Jamison, who died in 1833, and a little son of Mrs. Buck. In 1758 Richard Bard was carried off. On May 23, 1758, Joseph Gallady was killed, and his wife and one child taken from Conococheague. Frederick Smith who murdered Frederick Forster, the German tailor of Arendtsville, was sentenced to be hanged September 24, 1849, but hanged himself September 26, 1849. CHURCHES. The Reformed and Lutheran Union Church, known as “Flohr’s,” dates back to 1822, when the two societies entered on the work of erecting a house of worship. In 1875 the Reformed Society which owned an interest in “Flohr’s” Church with the Lutherans, up to that time, purchased the latter’s interest for $400, and the Lutherans bought the lot on which the church stood for $25, and on which the present Lutheran Church now stands, near McKnightstown, this township. Some of the original documents belonging to this society were destroyed in the rebel invasion of 1863, hence the date of organization and names of original members are unknown. The date of the building of the first church is also unknown. The second church was built of brick where the present one now stands. It was dedicated in 1822, and used as already stated, by the Reformed and Lutheran denominations until 1875. The present church was erected in 1875-76 and dedicated in the latter year. Its present membership is 200, and value of property is $7,000. The names of pastors are Revs. John Herbst, Charles Weyle, Frederick Ruthrauff, Benjamin Keller, George Roth, L. J. Bell, J. K. Miller, Michael Snyder, H. F. Long and D. M. Blackwelder. Mennonites-On the north side of the road opposite Flohr’s Church, stood the old Mennonite meeting-house, in which the followers of Menno Simonis worshiped until 1823, when a church was erected at Mummasburg. A school-house occupies the site of the old church; but opposite is the ancient cemetery of the original congregation, still claiming memorials of many of its early tenants. ARENDTSVILLE. The site of Arendtsville, or “John’s Pursuit,” was warranted to Nicholas Curle January 9, 1739, and patented by John Arendt August 14, 1810. In 1803 one William Sterling, of Gettysburg, conveyed forty acres (of the Curle seventy- three acres) for 5 s., just across the Menallen line, where the block-house of 1855 stood. Arendtsville was founded in 1808 by John Arendt, who died in 1826. In 1820 Myers kept the weather-boarded hotel, where George G. Plank’s dwelling now stands. The “Hiram Trostle House” was also there, used as a tavern. John Arendt built the house at the corner of the square now owned by Mr. Malaum, and a blacksmith shop, where now are the hotel stables. In 1845 Lower opened a store where now is the Trostle Building; in 1848 he built a carpenter shop on the Mrs. A. Taylor property; in 1852 George Lower erected a stone building on the lot adjoining. In 1845 Jacob Keckler was postmaster; Emanuel Umstadt established the first tannery. CHURCHES. Trinity Lutheran Church-The date of the organization of this society is about 1781, and the date of the church building are respectively 1787, 1851 and 1882. The first was of logs, located in the present old grave-yard. The second was of brick, and stood where the present improved Reformed Church now is. The first and second churches were used jointly by the Reformed and Lutheran denominations until the summer of 1882. The present church is located beside the Lutheran parsonage on High Street, in Arendtsville. It is built of brick, two storied, with steeple and bell. Its present membership numbers 321, and the value of property, inclusive of parsonage, is $10,000. The following are the names of the pastors who have served this congregation: Revs. Meltzheimer, Heiney, John Herbst, Charles Weyle, Frederick Ruthrauff, Benjamin Keller, A. R. Height, George Roth, L. J. Bell, J. K. Miller, Michael Snyder, H. F. Long and D. M. Blackwelder. In 1781 a grant of two acres and twenty-seven perches of and was made by Jacob Arendt and Stophel Sentmire, to Frederick Stan our and Philip Hartzell for the use of the Lutheran and Reformed Churches. This lot adjoins “John’s Pursuit;” on this house of worship was erected on the southeast corner of the square, opposite the present Reformed Church, in 1857-a two-story, log, weather-boarded structure. The pulpit was barrel shaped and the altar was railed in. The school and sexton’s house, at the end, were built at the same time. In 1851 these old buildings were removed, and the foundations for a new church laid on the site of the school and sexton’s house. This was known as Zion Reformed and Lutheran Church. With its building the parish school disappeared. In 1785 the first record book was purchased. The first to be baptized were John, Jacob and Anna Catherine Schneider, March 26, 1786. The oldest communion list is dated May 9 and 23, 1790. The first burial in the old grave-yard was in 1790, when Anna Maria Berrin was interred. In 1872 Green Mount and Fairview Cemeteries were established. Zion’s Reformed Church at Arendtsville-The Lutheran and Reformed congregations worshiped in the same house until 1878, when the former built a commodious and beautiful church, in which they have since worshiped. The latter bought out the Lutheran interest in the old church and last year determined to remodel it, which has been done at a cost of $6,000, and the church was dedicated (free of debt) Sunday, May 9, 1886, by Rev. M. H. Sangrée. The building is of brick, 67x43 feet, with two towers and a 1,200 pound bell, and is Gothic in style, with a seating capacity of 500. The organization of this society dates back to 1787. The following are names of the ministers who have served this congregation: Revs. Lebracht L. Hinsch, 1804-34; Benjamin Schneck, 1835; Jacob Baer, 1838; Samuel Gutalius, 1840-43; E. V. Gerhardt, D. D., 1843-1849; Jacob Zeigler, 1849 to 1863; D. W. Wolf, 1865 to 1873; A. J. Heller, 1873 to 1883; and M. H. Sangrée, present incumbent, from 1884. Miscellaneous-After 1851 W. D. Gobrecht rebuilt the Hance Morrison saw-mill and added a lath and shingle-mill. In 1856 the Cole Bros. purchased the property, and in 1863 Francis Cole became proprietor. At this place there is a covered bridge over the Conowago, erected in 1859. In 1820 there were the Bluebaugh, John Bushey and Thomas Good taverns near the foot of the Narrows, where John Orner now lives. Daniel Arendt’s property was originally owned by Nicholas Bittinger, whose heirs had it surveyed in 1809. The Capt. Eicholtz farm was warranted in 1797 by one Ferguson, and sold by him that year to Adam Plumb. Scott & Smeltzer built the first saw-mill there. In 1819 the Feguson-Plumb tract fell into the hands of the Bells, who in later years sold the mill lands to D. Arendt and the Plumb tract to Capt. Eicholtz. Nicholas Bittinger, the hero of Fort Washington, built the first grist-mill. He died in 1804. The old mill was rebuilt for the heirs of William Bell, Sr. William Bell, Jr. rebuilt the saw-mill. A distillery stood here also which Andrew Bittinger operated for a number of years. Francis Knaus built the first grist-mill at Arendtsville in 1797. In 1812 Isaac Wierman purchased the mill and farm, rebuilt it in 1840 as a saw and grist-mill, and after the Wierman Bros. came into possession, in 1866, they added the shingle-mill and introduced submerged water-wheels. The Washington Independent Guards was an old organization of Franklin even in 1822. The Independent Riflemen of Arendtsville were organized in June, 1858, with forty members. William F. Walter was elected captain, Jacob H. Plank, first lieutenant, and Jacob M. Bushey, second lieutenant. The Arendtsville ladies organized a soldiers’ relief society in December, 1861. The committee comprised Mrs. J. K. Miller, Mrs. Jacob Lower, Mrs. Jacob H. Plank, Mrs. Peter Boblitz, Mrs. C. Haines and Mrs. Samuel Eicholtz. In the fall of 1867 the Franklin & Butler military company was organized. This was known as the Franklin Zouaves, with Samuel H. Eicholtz, captain. CASHTOWN. This village nestles at the foot of Rock Top, which rises almost perpendicularly to a height of 410 feet above the level of the village, or 1,210 feet above the Atlantic. Its beginnings go away back to pioneer days. For some years past Cashtown has been casting away the swaddling clothes of a mountain hamlet, and now boasts of a fine church building, a well conducted hotel, a few good business houses and a number of comfortable private homes. A toll gate of the Gettysburg & Chambersburg Pike-road Company occupies a central place, but apart from this the village presents a modern appearance. Hilltown, on the road up to the South Mountain narrows, may be termed an extension of Cashtown. The Reformed Society of Cashtown formed a part of the society of Flohr’s Church until the Lutheran society acquired sole control there in 1875-76. About 1876 the society at Cashtown was formed; in 1877 the work of building the present neat house of worship was begun, and the church was dedicated January 13, 1878. The cost is estimated at $3,500. Rock Top Observatory was completed in July, 1879, for the owner, Editor Stahle. MUMMASBURG. The village was surveyed in 1820 by John L. Hinkle for John Mumma. It was platted into 150 lots, one of which was the spring, donated for public use, one for a schoolhouse and one or two for religious purposes. Many of the lots were placed in the lottery, each represented by a $56 ticket, on which a lot number was written. The “Mansion House” was drawn by James Black, who at once opened a tavern at this point, near his old tavern, to which a pike road was built in 1812. In 1822-23 John Mumma succeeded in having the Mennonite Church at Flohr’s removed to the new town, and donated the original Wislar lot to the congregation. Here a meeting-house was erected in 1823, and the cemetery laid out by John Wislar and Tobias Boyer, the first trustees. Here Abraham Roth, the bishop, David Reiff and George Herone preached for many years. Daniel Shank is the present bishop of this county, and, with Martin Wislar, officiates here. The Union Presbyterian and Lutheran Church, near the village school, was built in 1882. The lot was originally granted by John Mumma on condition that the church to be built thereon would be open to all Biblical teachers. Joseph Wilson and Solomon Hartman represented the Union as trustees, and David Wilts was superintendent of building. The M. T. P. Society was organized April 8, 1858, with William D. Gobrecht, president, and James Russell, secretary. The presidents since that time have been Jacob Fulweiler, B. Deardorff, John Hartman and E. W. Stahle. Jacob Eicholtz, and Jacob Fulweiler were secretaries, the present incumbent being David McGrew. The number of members is placed at 2,423; value of property insured, $3,250,980; total receipts since organization, $43,447.33; total losses paid, $43,447.33. The Mummasburg postoffice has been in charge of H. W. Witmore for a number of years. M’KNIGHTSTOWN. McKnightstown (or New Salem) is so named from the fact that it occupies a part of the old McKnight farm. In 1860 Albert Vandyke sold a tract of land to John Hartman; the same year he and Hezekiah Latshaw surveyed and platted a village, and immediately a house was erected by Abram Mickley. In 1867 Jacob F. Lower built a store-house, and during that year many of the houses now constituting the village were erected. The postoffice is in charge of W. F. Rittase. BUCHANAN VALLEY. Buchanan Valley, originally called “Pleasant Valley,” was settled about the year 1734. It is six miles in length and about two miles in breadth. James Bleakley was the first to move into the valley; others soon followed. Some of the names of those were Casper Hiller, Nicholas Strausbaugh, John Dellone, Andrew Noel, Donald McClellan, William Cobb and James Kern, who settled in the north and western part; Michael Dellone, Jacob Starner and William Milligan in the southern part; James Jamison, Robert Buck, Christopher Warren, Jacob Symmons in the eastern part. James Bleakley was the first farmer; was also a shoe-maker by trade, 1734. The first child born in the valley was Isabella Bleakley, June 11, 1748. The first marriage was in 1778; William Brandon to Jane Bleakley. James Bleakley, Jr., built the first saw-mill in 1783. The first death was June 30, 1809, in the person of the wife of James Bleakley. Mrs. Armstrong was the first school teacher (1790), the schoolhouse being situated in the northern part of the valley at the foot of the Pine Mountain. The first grist-mill was built in 1824 by Lowstetter, which stands on the farm now owned by Theodore Kimple, being on the Conowago Creek. George Douse was the first store-keeper, opening his store in 1851. The residents of Hilltown side of the mountain are not identified with the people of the valley. The name of the valley was changed to “Buchanan Valley” during the presidential campaign of James Buchanan in 1856. The present number of inhabitants is 502. There are at present three stores in Buchanan Valley, kept respectively by Mrs. Anna Rollman, John H. Musser, and George Cole, Sr.; three steam saw-mills owned respectively by Amos Newman, George Cole, Sr., and William Martin; eight saw- mills run by water-power owned respectively by Francis Cole, Theodore Kimple, Sr., John Dillon, Dillon & Irwin, John Bittinger, Andrew Bittinger and Nancy Bleakley; one grist-mill owned by Theodore Kimple, Sr.; one blacksmith shop, Samuel Irwin, smith. There are three schoolhouses: Brady’s school, taught by Sarah C. Stahle; Strausbaugh’s school, taught by Clement Hartman, and Newman’s school taught by Charles Deardorff. Agriculture, stock growing, and the manufacture of lumber are the principal pursuits of the inhabitants. There is but little commerce, charcoal, grain and lumber being the chief articles. Conowago Creek runs through the valley, rising on William Sheppard’s farm, at a spring in the meadow. This farm is situated at the head of the valley near the Chambersburg pike. Valentine Fehl purchased the Cornelius Campbell and other tracts (as warranted in 1762), in 1795, and in July, 1809, they were deeded to him, and became known as the Armagli tract, now the property of Francis Cole, and here he kept a hotel as late as 1825. In 1795 it was the property of the heirs of Hans, Hugh and James Morrison and John Sample. Morrison built the first saw-mill on this property. William Boyd kept tavern where C. W. Stewart now lives. William Kelso settled here and built the house which is still standing, in 1770. In 1779 Andrew Boyd purchased it from Kelso and William Boyd, and opened it as a hotel at the foot of Piney Hill. Trust postoffice was established in 1886, George Cole being appointed postmaster. St. Ignatius Catholic Church is situated in Buchanan Valley in the South Mountain, about ten miles from Gettysburg, on a commanding eminence in the southern part of Buchanan Valley. There is but little known of the early history of this church, as there is no record to be found here or at Conowago, the Church from which pastors were supplied. The records were destroyed. This church was attached to Conowago Church until 1858. It was originated in 1816 by John Lowstetter, who gave a tract of land to build it on, and the corner-stone was laid October 10, 1816. It is built of brick. Part of the land on which the church stood was sold by the sheriff, John Arendt, in the year 1819. The remainder of the land was sold and purchased by the Jesuits of Georgetown and Conowago Church. Some of the original members were Jacob Sterner, Andrew Sterner, Michael Strasbaugh, Michael Dellone, Andrew Noel, John Walter, William Noel, Peter Dellone, Sr., Joseph Baker and Christian Baker. The parsonage was begun December 27, 1818. It is a frame building and is built beside the church. The Jesuits, in 1853, sold the land in lots, reserving two acres upon which the church stands, including the cemetery. Rev. Adolphus L. DeBarth celebrated mass at the house of Andrew Noel, Sr., which stood on the farm now owned by John and Samuel Irwin. This was some time before the church was built; probably between 1800 and 1817. He was the first pastor but there is no record of his pastorship. Rev. Mathew Leken succeeded Father DeBarth and served this congregation until 1829. Fathers Kendler and Steinbacher attended this congregation also, assistants of Father Leken. Michael Dougherty served until 1843. He officiated at the first marriages there is any record of at this church: George Cole to Anna Strasbaugh; John Cole to Sarah Strasbaugh, October 1, 1843. Rev. James B. Cotting, the next pastor, purchased the bell and organ. Rev. Francis X. Denecker, who succeeded Father Cotting, provided a library and established the Rosary society. He was the last regular Jesuit pastor. In 1858 the Jesuits gave over the Gettysburg and Mountain churches and church property into the care and control of Rev. James Wood, bishop of Philadelphia. A new charge was formed out of the Gettysburg (St. Francis Xavier), Immaculate Conception, Fairfield and St. Ignatius, South Mountain. Rev. Basil Shorb was the first secular pastor appointed after Father Denecker, in 1858, residing in Gettysburg. He attended until about February 24, 1860. He was followed by Rev. L. J. Miller, who attended five months; the Rev. F. P. Mulgrew, from September to December, 1860. Then came Rev. Michael Martin for a short time. The next regular pastor was the Rev. Arthur McGinni, who was in charge from July 16, 1861, to about October 27, 1863. Rev. Joseph A. Boll assumed charge January 4, 1864, until the spring of 1873, when St. Ignatius Church was detached from the Gettysburg, and attached to the Chambersburg charge. Rev. John Boescus, of the Chambersburg charge, took charge of St. Ignatius Church, South Mountain, in 1873; Rev. Daniel Reily, assistant. Rev. Thomas J. Flemming took charge of the congregation in July, 1875, with Rev. Joseph Kaelin as assistant. He bade farewell to his congregation August 15, 1881. Rev. Clement A. Schleuter, the present pastor, succeeded Father Flemming; Father Raelin still is assistant pastor. In the cemetery in connection with this church Andrew Noel, aged eighty-six, was the first person buried, in 1821. The value of the church property is $8,000. Jacob J. Cole was instrumental in establishing the Parochial School of St. Ignatius Church in the year 1877, Rev. Thomas J. Flemming, pastor. Miss Jane A. Cole was appointed teacher, but did not finish the term, her cousin Jennie S. Cole finishing for her. Annie McCloskey succeeded and taught two terms. Sarah C. Stahle took charge of the school in 1883, and is the present teacher. The school is only open during the summer months. She takes a lively interest in the welfare of the children of Buchanan Valley and in their moral and religious training. Rev. C. A. Schlenter pastor. The present choir consists of Jennie S. Cole, organist; Peter Adams, leader; John Baker, George I. Cole, Jacob J. Cole, Sara C. Stahle, Annie Cole, Annie Steinberger and Katie Steinberger. SEVEN STARS. This is a name given to a little hamlet on the Hanover Junction, Harrisburg & Gettysburg Railroad. Prior to 1840 Andrew Hentzellman’s tavern marked the location; years later it was surveyed into town lots; but not until 1867 did it assume any importance, although a postoffice was established there some years before. Of late years Israel Little and E. J. Little have been postmasters. SHEELEY’S. At Sheeley’s settlement above Hilltown the beginnings of another village have been made. On the death of Jacob Sheely, who resided near the old Indian burying ground, in 1860, a cemetery was opened above the foot of the Narrows. In 1861 Calvary Church of the United Brethren Association was erected, and in 1880 the brick schoolhouse, just north of the church, was built and opened by Horace Comfort. Jacob Sheely is the present teacher. Prior to 1880 the children of the new district had to attend school at Lady’s or Cashtown. CHAMBERLIN’S. Chamberlin’s settlement dates its beginnings back to the pioneer days of the county; but not until 1850 was it distinguished from any of the neighboring farms. In that year Chamberlin’s Methodist Episcopal Church was erected, and dedicated November 6, by Rev. Charles Tipet, presiding elder. The mission formerly belonged to the Gettysburg Circuit, but is now attached to the Littlestown charge. The cemetery dates back to February 11, 1855, when Ellick Clark, an old resident aged seventy-five years, was buried there. There are eighteen headstones memorializing the death of so many aged citizens. Among the original members of the church were the Diehls, Linns, Beards, Leases, Beiseckers, Spences, Catherine Chamberlin, and Gilberts. MISCELLANEOUS. Ortanna is the name given to the station at the present western terminus of the Hanover Junction, Harrisburg & Gettysburg Railroad, which passed through a portion of the southern part of the township. Here, in 1884, Wertz & Co. established a store and warehouse and erected a neat residence. Graeffenburg is a small settlement on the western border of the township, a half mile from Caledonia furnace. It is the postal town of the Upper Conococheague country and the Buchanan Valley. Since its beginning it has sustained a small business. Josephine Riggeal is postmistress. “Pleasant Valley” is the name given to the pass in South Mountain, through which the head waters of Marsh Creek rush eastward, and the turnpike leads to Chambersburg, west of Cashtown. The postoffices in Franklin Township are Arendtsville, Cashtown, Graeffenburgh, McKnightstown, Mummasburgh, Seven Stars and Trust.