BIO & HISTORY: Daniel M. Bare, 1920, Roaring Spring, Blair County, PA - Part 2 Contributed May 2003 by J. Goddard and Judy Banja Copyright 2003. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/ _________________________________________ Looking Eighty Years Backward and A History of Roaring Spring, Pa. D. M. BARE COLLEGE PRESS FINDLAY, OHIO 1920 INTRODUCTION What may be written on the following pages is respectfully dedicated to my worthy grandson, Ivan, at whose suggestion I conceived the idea of writing of some of the things that I was familiar with in my boyhood and early manhood days, believing that the changes of customs and manners of living that have taken place during the past three-fourths of a century might interest the present generation. - D. M. B. Roaring Spring, Pa. 1920. CONTENTS PART I. A COVE FARMER BOY SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO PART II. FROM BOYHOOD TO MIDDLE LIFE, WITH PERSONAL REMINISCENCES OF MEN AND EVENTS IN MORRISON'S COVE. PART III. A HISTORY OF ROARING SPRING AND VICINITY <<<:>>> (81) PART III. A HISTORY OF ROARING SPRING AND VICINITY (82) PART III. When I began to write these reminiscences I had merely intended to write them for the information of my immediate family and their friends and I did not expect to have them appear in print, but as I continued to write it was suggested to me to write of some more recent events than I had intended and that I have the same printed in book form which I have now decided to do. Hence, the following pages will be a more recent date and of a more general character. What is now Morrison's Cove was part of Cumberland County when the first settlers came into it. Bedford County was stricken off Cumberland County in 1771, while Rupp's History tells us that pioneer settlers came into the "Big Cove" between 1740 and 1750. Rupp gives the names of these "Adventurers," as he calls them, as follows; Andrew Donaldson, John MacCleland, Charles Stewart, James Downy, John MacMean, Robert Kendell, Samuel Brown, William Shepperd, Roger Murphy, Robert Smith, William Dickey, William Millican, William MacConnell, Alexander MacConnell, James MacConnell, Adam MacConnell, (83) Hans Patter, John Martin, James Wilson, John Wilson and others. According to Rupp these lands had not been purchased from the Indians and these pioneers were warned by the government to leave the settlement. They appear not to have left it for he tells us that in May, 1750, Richard Peters, Secretary, accompanied by the sheriff of the county and others proceeded to Path Valley and burned eleven cabins, at Aughwick they burned one and in the Big Cove they burned three, and the settlers were required to enter into a recognizance to appear in court. Rupp's History also gives a purchase from the Indians in the year 1754; this purchase probably included the land lying within the limits of Morrison's Cove. In the list of the names given of the early settlers, we do not find the name of the person after whom this valley was called. In Rupp's History, page 511, this statement occurs, "The Cove was first settled by a Mr. Morrison from Washington County, Maryland." In Sherman Day's History of the State of Pennsylvania, published in 1843, we find this reference to the name; "Morrison's Cove was settled at a very early date by a Mr. Morris from Washington County, Maryland; from him the valley took its proper name, Morrison's Cove." Mr. Norman D. Gray, Deputy Librarian of the Pennsylvania State Library, gave me the following information in regard to the name, quoting from Jones' History of (84) the Juniata Valley, "The name of the Cove was changed from "Great Cove" to "Morrison's Cove" in honor of a Mr. Morriss as early as 1770." Of the three histories just quoted, two of them give the name as Morris, the other one is Morrison, and the two of them state this Morris or Morrison came from Washington County, Maryland. Where he came from is, therefore not disputed, but where he lived and what he did while in the Cove is still untold and bids fair to remain so. The census of 1790 gives the name of one Hughey Morris and three Morrisons, John, Mordecai and Mary. Whether either of the persons, just named, gave our valley its name, I am not prepared to say, but I think the history of the one after whom it was called as it pertains to Morrison's Cove has so far remained unwritten. In addition to the foregoing, Koons and Blackburn's History of Somerset and Bedford counties, says, "a man by the name of Morrison settled in the Cove as early as 1717 and the valley was called after him." To the writer, however, this date looks too early. Jones in his history says this man came as early as 1770. In addition to what has already been said of Morrison's Cove on the previous pages, the following from Jones' History, page 207, will be of interest: "The 'Great Cove' and the 'Little Cove' are mentioned quite frequently in government papers as far (85) back as 1749. The Great Cove, now known as Morrison's Cove, commences at Pattonsville, Bedford County, and ends at Williamsburg on the Juniata River, and is bounded by Dunnings and Lock Mountains on the West, and by Tussey Mountain on the East. For fertile limestone land, beautiful scenery and splendid farms, few valleys in the state equal, none surpass, Morrison's Cove. The earliest settlement of the Cove was effected by Scotch-Irish as early as 1749, but they shared the fate of the 'burnt cabins' folks when Secretary Peters answered the prayers of the Indians and they were expelled. Nothing daunted, however, many of them returned and commenced improving, and that too, before the scions of 'Father Onus' had acquired the right, title and interest to all and singular, these fine lands for the munificent sum of 400 pounds. The greater portion of this beautiful valley was almost unexplored until the Penns made the new purchase. About 1755 a colony of Dunkards took up the southern portion of the Cove and their descendants hold possession of it to this day. They have unquestionably the finest farms as well as the most fertile in the state." In regard to the name, Jones, on page 217 says: "The name of the Cove was changed from 'Great Cove' to 'Morrison's Cove' in honor of a Mr. Morrris as early as 1770." Some of the methods used by the govern- (86) ment of that day in dealing with the Indians are given in Jones' History, page 158, as follows: "Scarroyady succeeded the Half King in the affairs of Aughwick. He was a brave and powerful chief and possessed the most unbounded influence among the Indians. Governor Morris in a speech previously approved by the Council made to Scarroyady and some Indians accompanying him said: 'Brethren, for the encouragement of you and all who will join in the destruction of our enemies, I propose to give the following bounties or rewards, viz., for every male Indian prisoner above twelve years old that shall be delivered at any of the government forts or towns, one hundred and fifty dollars; for every female Indian prisoner or male prisoner of twelve years old or under, delivered as above, one hundred and thirty dollars; for the scalp of every male Indian of above twelve years old, one hundred and thirty dollars, and for the scalp of every Indian woman, fifty dollars." By way of explanation, Jones says: "Let this fixed price for scalps not stand upon the pages of history as a stigma against the peaceable and non-resistant Quakers of the province, for at the time these bounties were offered John and Thomas Penn had abjured the habits and religion of that people." Such brutality as that just recited, planned and authorized by the highest officer in the state, makes a per- (87) son feel glad that they live in the twentieth and not the eighteenth century I stated on a previous page that Edward Sanders had secured a warrant for the "Mill Seat" property in 1766; he was one of the early settlers or at least owners of property in this community. He sold to Daniel Ullery in 1780, while Eli Lower believes that his great grandfather, John Lower, settled here as early as 1760. He took up several hundred acres which is the land now owned by the Lower heirs, Brook Sell, David Snowberger and Eli and Anna Cowen. Other early settlers were the Shoenfelts and Biddles. The original Shoenfelt who settled here was Jacob C., a minister in the Brethren Church. He took up six hundred and forty acres of land which consisted in part of the farms now owned by Blair Snowberger, Jacob Kaufman, part of Dr. Garver's farm, the Umbower farm and what was formerly the Johann Yingling farm. He lived where Jacob Kaufman now lives and in front of Kaufman's spring house on a stone is the following inscription, "August 2nd, 1802." This was no doubt placed there in Jacob Shoenfelt's time, but his settling there was probably at an earlier date. Mr. Eli Lower is authority for the information that the first store opened within the limits of Roaring Spring was owned by a Mr. Farquar and was in charge of Mr. Eli Lower's father, John Lower. This was (88) at the time the old Portage railroad was being constructed over the Allegheny Mountains. This store was kept in a building located on the property now owned by the Wilderson sisters, and the owner of the store, Mr. Farquar, was probably a brother-in-law of Geo. B. Spang, who became the owner of the Spang's Mill property in 1821, and who died in 1855. His wife, Sarah Spang, died in 1866 and the last of their children to die was Mrs. Julia V. Bridge, who died at Apopka, Florida, in the year 1917. When we moved to Spang's Mill in January, 1864, it was a very quiet place, but nearby to the north there existed a hive of industry. A short distance down the stream were two iron forges called Upper and Middle Maria Forges and a little further on was another called Lower Maria Forge, and at the same place was also a grist mill which is still in operation. However, the two upper forges which with the other forges nearby had been operated for many years by Dr. Peter Shoenberger, were finally closed down in 1862 and in the same year Ricketson and Rodman built the first Rodman furnace. Mr. Rodman was the owner of the iron foundry in Pittsburg, and was at that time engaged in manufacturing cannon for the United States government; this was the second year of the Civil War. Mr. Rodman had used some metal (89) made from the Ore Hill ore and found it was the strongest iron he had yet used. The first Rodman furnace was built in less than four months and it is said that the profits made the first three months of its operation paid the cost of building it. I think the metal from this furnace sold as high as eighty dollars a ton, while the price of pig metal before the war was less than eighteen dollars per ton. The second Rodman furnace was built by Chas. Knap & Company about the year 1871; this was a large coke furnace while the first Rodman furnace was a charcoal furnace. In addition to the iron works already enumerated, there was a furnace and forge at McKee, then called McKee's Gap. This furnace and forge were formerly called Martha Furnace and Martha Forge. I am indebted to the Hon. Jesse L. Hartman for the following information in regard to the iron works, formerly operated in Blair County. The Upper Maria Forge was built by Dr. Peter Shoenberger in the year 1828, Middle Maria in 1830, Lower Maria in 1832, Martha (McKee), in 1838, Martha (McKee) Furnace, about 1843. McKee's Gap Furnace closed down in 1877, McKee's Gap Forge closed down in 1874, Lower Maria Forge closed down in 1876. In 1870 Martin Bell and Joseph Irwin, trustees of Juniata Iron Mfg. Company, conveyed the Gap Furnace property to Samuel S. Blair, who in 1871 conveyed this property to the Holli- (90) daysburg and Gap Iron Works, a corporation. In 1892 Joseph Fichner, trustee for the first mortgage bond holders conveyed this property to the First National Bank of Huntingdon, Pa., and in 1899 this bank conveyed the same property to Jesse L. Hartman, the present owner. In addition to the foregoing Mr. Hartman has given the following information about the iron works of Blair County. "One of the first built within the limits of the county was the Allegheny Furnace, built by Allison and Henderson in 1811 and sold to Elias Baker in 1835. Springfield Furnace was built by John and Daniel Royer in 1815. Rebecca Furnace was built by Dr. Peter Shoenberger in 1817 and Sarah Furnace by Dr. Shoenberger in 1832. Cove Forge, the first forge in the county, was built by John Royer in 1810. Elizabeth Furnace was built by Edward Bell in 1832, and Rodman Furnace was built by Ricketson and Rodman in 1862. There was also a furnace located at Point View called Soap Fat Furnace, the date, when built, is not given. This furnace made twenty-five tons a week of charcoal iron and closed down permanently in 1844. Counting Sarah Furnace, just across the Bedford line, there have been twelve iron furnaces within the county limits, but now there are none and no forges." The territory now comprising Taylor (91) Township was formerly part of North Woodbury Township, Bedford County and part of Huston Township, Huntingdon County. However, in the year 1846 Blair County was formed out of parts of Huntingdon and Bedford Counties and on July 30, 1855, Taylor township was formed from parts of North Woodbury and Huston townships, and the first assessment of the new township was made in 1856. The following officers were then elected: John C. Biddle, Assessor; Jacob Shoenfelt and Wm. McIlnay, supervisors; and William Shiffler, Jacob Snowberger and John Earlenbaugh, School Directors. The first census taken of Taylor as a separate township was in 1860. It then contained a population of 1137. Since then the population as returned by the U.S. enumerator was 1368 in 1880, 2011 in 1890, and 1116 in 1900, plus the population of Roaring Spring, which was in that year 1340. The following additional information about the local history I have taken from Simpson Africa's history of Blair County: Jacob Neff, the Dunkard miller (of whom mention will be made on a following page) appears to have settled here on what was called the "Mill Seat Tract" about the year 1775. However, the families of Martins and Hoovers and Housers may have settled within the limits of Taylor Township previous to that date, as about the year 1777 (92) the Indians killed the father and brother of Martin Houser and took Martin and one of his sisters as prisoners. The Housers lived on the farm for many years which is now the property of John Cornelius. Jacob Shoenfelt, Sr., built the stone house in Sharpsburg in 1802 and the log house adjoining it was built by John Brumbaugh about twenty years previous to this. A son of Jacob Shoenfelt, Sr., states that when his father moved into Morrison's Cove and for some time afterward, there were only two grist mills in the Cove; the one owned by John Ullery at Roaring Spring and the other one owned by John Snyder located at Pattonsville. Mr. Shoenfelt also says that as late as 1800 there was not a store in Morrison's Cove. He says, too, that the only religious denominations here were the Lutherans and the Dunkards; the latter worshipped in their dwelling houses, but the Lutherans built a church near Replogles' Mill, formerly Potters, called the Potter Church. The Cyclopedia of Blair County gives this additional information. "From 1763 to 1775 the following persons came into what is now Taylor Township: Jacob Neff, Christian Hoover and Martin and Jacob Houser, and up to 1787 this additional list is given: John Brumbaugh, Daniel Ellrich (perhaps Daniel Ullery), Christ Markle, Abraham Plummer, Jacob Plummer, Peter Hoover, Philip Stoner and Peter Stoner. (93) Between 1790 and 1800 came John Ullery, Jacob Shoenfelt, Edward Cowen, - Neterer, John Lower, Adam Lower, Frederick hartle, John Morgan and Tobias Shiffler." The encounter of Mr. Neff, the Dunkard miller, with the Indians in Jones' History, when boiled down, is as follows: About 1777 two Indians came near his mill with a view of either killing or capturing him, but Mr. Neff got the first shot and killed the older one. At that point of the fight both guns appeared to be empty and it was a question of who could load and fire the quickest; in this Neff appeared to win out and succeeded in killing the young Indian. He knew, however, that there were others in the vicinity and he made his escape to the nearest settlement, but returning with other settlers, found his mill burned to the ground. However, concerning the history of Mr. Neff just given, Mr. Africa comments on it as follows: "Queer enough, however, no accounts have anything to say of Neff's family, whether he had one at the mill or not and whether he rebuilt the mill, as stated by Jones. It is certain that he did not reside here in 1788, for the assessment rolls of Woodbury Township for that year show that Jacob Neff then owned only unseated lands." In confirmation of the truthfulness of Mr. Africa's comments, I have these additional facts to offer. All authorities that I have examined (94) appear to assume that this Jacob Neff's mill was located on or near the site where the present Roaring Spring grist mill stands. If such is a fact, and I believe it is, then Mr. Neff could have been only a tenant. I am very sure that he never owned this property for the reason that I have now in my possession the original patent from the state calling for one hundred and sixty-nine acres of land, described as the "Mill Seat Tract," and so described as the "Mill Seat Tract" in all subsequent conveyances of which there have been only five. The application for this tract was made by Edward Sanders, dated December 22nd, 1766, and Sanders conveyed it to Daniel Ullery in 1780, who by will, devised it to his son, John Ullery, in 1781. He sold it to George B. Spang in 1821, later becoming the property of his son, Joe M. Spang, and it was conveyed to the present owner in 1863. In addition to the foregoing history of Mr. Neff, Rupp's History gives the following account of the battle between Neff and the Indians: "While Mr. Neff was working at his mill, two Indians lay in ambush bent on taking his life. When he espied them, he pointed his gun at them and they, theirs at him. Neff sped a bullet through the heart of the older one and retreated; the younger pursued him but Neff soon dispatched him also. Their bodies, he cast into the creek and he hastened to (95) Holliday's Fort to take shelter. To avenge their disaster the Indians the next day reduced Neff's mill to ashes." Whether Neff was a tenant on this property or whether he built his mill before the Indians had sold their land to the State or whether the mill was not located on this "Mill Seat Tract" I confess I am unable to determine. Without the advent of the Railroad, Roaring Spring could not have become the important business place that it now is. In 1873 the paper mill was producing less than a ton of paper a day but a new era of prosperity came with the building of the Morrison's Cove Branch Railroad. This was completed and put in operation in 1871. When the mill was started in 1866, our nearest shipping point was Hollidaysburg, but several years later a branch railroad was run to Newry. The directors of this road were: Alexander Knox, Henry McIntosh, Joseph Fichtner, Frank McCoy and D. M. Bare. This shortened our haul about one-half but even that haul would have prevented us from increasing the capacity of the mill much above the original plant. However, the railroad coming into the Cove helped us soon to begin increasing the plant and later to make a Blank Book Factory possible. The village of Roaring Spring was a part of Taylor Township until June 27, 1888, when it was incorporated as a Borough. A (96) census, however, appears to have been taken of it separate from the Township in 1880, as Jesse C. Sell's History of Blair County gives the population as four hundred and eighty-nine at this date. There is no record of any earlier census but I suppose that the inhabitants living within the present limits of Roaring Spring would not have been much more than one hundred in 1870. The census for the four following decades gave the population as follows: Nine hundred and twenty in 1890; thirteen hundred and forty in 1900; nineteen hundred and three in 1910; and in 1920, 2379. (97) THE WATER SYSTEM Up until 1892 the people of the town carried the water from the mill race for domestic use, with the exception of a few person who had dug wells, and there was not very much sentiment at that time for any better water facilities. The question of town water began to be agitated and finally public meeting was called, following which an election was held on September 27th, 1892, and the "Town Water Party" won by a vote of seventy-two to forty-eight. After that another election was held on the proposal to increase the Borough debt to ten thousand dollars. This also carried but by a very small margin, sixty-one for, fifty-nine against. After a considerable hunt for a mountain stream, on October 29th, 1893, a contract was signed for the Jacob Biddle Stream and soon after that a pipe line was laid and the water was brought into town sometime during the year 1894. This new system was very satisfactory until the population of the town had increased beyond the supply of water. Then it became necessary to hunt a further supply and this was found in what is called the Snowberger Stream. This was something less than a mile distant from the Biddle Stream and a pipe line was laid to connect (98) it with the main pipe line on the Biddle farm. These two streams gave the town sufficient water most of the year but in a dry season it was insufficient, as at that time there was no reservoir to hold the water when the streams were running full. It was then decided to construct a large reservoir on the Biddle Farm and the first construction was quite faulty and allowed much water to escape but after some repairs were made, it was fairly satisfactory. This reservoir was a great help to the water supply of the town and yet in dry seasons there was scarcity of water and considerable complaint was made by the people living on high ground. So to obviate this trouble the Borough Council decided to build a reservoir in the town and for that purpose about eight-tenths of an acre of land was purchased, located on the highest point of the D. M. Bare farm. To prevent any scarcity of water a pipe line was run from the Spring Dam to the a pump in the Blank Book Factory and from there to the reservoir so that in case of necessity water could be supplied from the Big Spring. This arrangement has been quite satisfactory; every person has water and not much pumping is needed. The entire cost of pumping water from the spring to the reservoir for the year 1919 was seventy-eight dollars. From a clipping of the Roaring Spring News, I find that it was not long after the (99) Biddle Stream was brought to the town that it was discovered that the water in that stream was not sufficient to supply the town the whole year. As the Snowberger Stream was secured as early as 1895 and an election Jan'y. 25th, 1896, confirmed the purchase, the use of town water for less than two years had made it quite popular, for at the election securing this stream, one hundred and five persons voted in favor and only four against it. For increasing the debt, one hundred and eight voted yes and only one solitary vote was cast against it. I am indebted to Mr. J. C. Curfman for the following detailed information as to the extent of the water property and the cost of it. The first purchase of land was made of P. S. Duncan in 1897, one hundred acres and seventy-one perches, costing $1255.55. The second purchase was from John G. McGraw in 1904 for four hundred and twelve acres and thirty-six perches, costing $1836.38. The third purchase was made from John Woodcock in 1914, assignee of J. Blair Shoenfelt. This property was bought by D. M. Bare and afterwards sold to the Borough, and it contained five hundred and eighty-four acres and one hundred and seventeen perches and cost the Borough $3570.13. The Duncan purchase took in the Biddle Stream. The McGraw purchase took in the stream that flowed over the Gordon property; this stream has not (100) yet been attached to the water system. The Woodcock purchase takes in the water shed of these two streams, and of the Snowberger stream. These three different purchases aggregate ten hundred and ninety-seven acres and sixty-four perches of good thrifty timber land, worth, I think, thrice as much as it cost. The Borough also holds a deed from L. L. Biddle, dated September 26th, 1908, for four acres of land on which the reservoir was built, the consideration in this deed was, free water for his farm. The cost of the water plant is as follows: The Bond Issue of 1902 $10,000.00 A later bond issue 3,000.00 Cost of stream and right-of-way Jacob Biddle 225.00 Cost of Biddle Reservoir 13,892.29 Cost of Bare Reservoir 16,044.14 Cost of 1097 A. and 64 P. land 6,662.06 __________ $49,823.49 The present indebtedness for water bonds is $22,000.00. From this it would appear that the water system has made a clear profit of about $30,000.00 (101) THE GRIST MILL According to Daniel Rupp's History of Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams and Perry Counties, the first mill that was built in Morrison's Cove was built by Jacob Neff, who came from Lancaster County, Penna. This was the original Roaring Spring Mill. There appears to be no known record, as to the year in which this mill was built, but it was probably built some years before 1777. According to records in my possession it had only five owners since it was built, viz.: Daniel Ullery, John Ullery, Geo. B. Spang, Job M. Spang and the present owner. I bought the property in 1863. The old mill building was probably about thirty-five by sixty feet, three stories and a basement, built at two different times. The part next the water wheels was built of logs and weather-boarded and the other end was a good frame building. The gearing, including shafting and pulleys, was of wood with two outside wooden water wheels. Whether the log part of this mill was the building erected after the Indians burned the first one I do not know, but think probably it was. The old mill was removed and the present one built in 1868. J. F. Ellsworth was the architect and millwright and Francis McMasters the head carpenter. At the (102) time it was built, it was probably the most modern and best equipped mill in the county. At that time all mills were burr mills, but not many years afterward some of the more progressive millers began to change to roller mills, and within five or six years after the mill was built, the burrs were taken out and the roller system installed to meet competition. When we bought the property the stream was considered a good water power, but after taking the wash water for the paper mill out of the spring, it became necessary to reinforce the water power with steam, hence, for the last thirty years the power has been water and steam. While many mills in the surrounding country have been abandoned this mill has never lacked patronage and for the past fifty years has been operated continuously and generally at a fair profit. I operated the mill from the time we bought the property until 1880 when I took charge of the paper mill and then rented it to Akers, Galbraith & Company, who operated it for the next twelve or fifteen years. After this firm had dissolved, Mr. E. A. Feight became the lessee and continued as such till 1906, when Mr. Feight moved to the State of Indiana and George Mock and John Hoover, the present lessees took charge of it. These men have the confidence of the community and are very successful hands. (103) THE PAPER MILL In the summer of 1865 three young men conferred together with the view of building a paper mill. These young men were John Eby, John Morrison and D. M. Bare. It was finally decided to build and to locate it at Roaring Spring, then a hamlet of eight or nine houses. Before the work was started, Isaac Bowers was added to the list of partners and these young men were long in energy and hopefulness but rather short in cash. However, they got the mill built and started it in April, 1866. But their hopefulness was turned to despondency long before the end of the first year for they had a boiler explosion in July which caused a shut-down of the mill for several months. To add to their misfortune the whole plant burned in October of the same year, leaving but the smoldering ruins of what they had hoped would be a successful enterprise, but after some consideration it was decided to rebuild. However, before the work of rebuilding was well under way a most serious loss came to this firm in the death of John Eby, its General Manager. Nevertheless the work of rebuilding was continued through the winter and the mill was again started up in the early spring of 1867 with John Morrison as General Manager. The (104) records at hand do not go back further than the year 1873, but the mill was run with one small machine from the start till 1878 when a second one, somewhat larger, was installed. There is no record to show what the daily production of the mill was up to the year 1873. That year the record shows a daily average of 1860 pounds and the selling price was ten cents, nine and one-half cents and nine cents per pound. In 1877 the production had moved up to 4500 pounds and the selling price was seven and one-fourth cents. In 1881 with two machines running the production went up to 12,300 pounds, but the price of paper had settled down to five and three-fourths cents. In 1892 we put in a third machine and in 1898 we remodeled the mill, increasing the capacity of the pulp mill. In the year 1904 we rebuilt the steam plant and also installed the McDonald Bleach Plant; since then we have made our own bleach. By the year 1905 our average daily production had moved up to 51,000 pounds, but the price had settled down to three dollars and twenty-seven cents per hundred pounds. Our present average daily production is from 60,000 to 62,000 pounds. For the first few years after starting the mill, we made what was called a bogus-manilla paper. It was made from straw and gunny-bagging and was used for grocer's bags and sold at from nine to ten cents a pound. Some time (105) before 1870 we began to make white paper from straw and rags. The price of white paper at that time was about twelve cents a pound. In 1875 we began to use linn and poplar wood in making white print paper; however, we continued to use straw pulp with our wood pulp for several years, but abandoned the use of straw in the year 1880. For the past thirty years our product has been machine finish and super calendered book and writing papers. At the present time the mill employs about two hundred and fifty persons. I might say further in this connection that the paper used for this book was made by our mill at Roaring Spring. The Roaring Spring Mill is the pioneer paper mill of Central Pennsylvania. The firm of Morrison, Bare and Cass built the Tyrone Paper Mill in the year 1880, which is now the property of the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company. About the same time John Dixon and the Armstrong brothers built the Lock Haven Paper Mill and about 1898 Charles Schwab built the Williamsburg Mill which also is now owned by the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company. These three Blair County Paper Mills employ at their plants something more than a thousand persons and consume about sixty thousand cords of wood and probably two hundred thousand tons of coal annually. After the death of John Eby, his interest (106) in the mill was purchased by John Morris and Jacob Eby and the firm name changed to Morrison, Bare and Company. This firm continued with John Morrison as manager till 1875 and in that year the firm established a paper warehouse in Pittsburgh with Mr. Morrison in charge, for the sale of their papers and also for the sale of other papers. In the year 1875 Isaac Bowers met his death on a railroad near Galesburg, Illinois and his interest in the mill was sold to the surviving partners. In 1876 Joseph K. Cass bought a one-fourth interest in the property and the firm name changed to Morrison, Bare and Cass. Mr. Cass took charge of the business of the Pittsburgh House and Mr. Morrison again became the manager of the mill. In 1880 Morrison Bare and Cass built the Tyrone Mill and Mr. Morrison became the manager of it. On the first of January, 1886, the firm of Morrison, Bare and Cass was dissolved and the property divided. Morrison and Cass took the Tyrone Mill and the Pittsburgh warehouse and D. M. Bare and Jacob Eby became the owners of the Roaring Spring Mill and two years later the old frame building was taken down and the present main building erected. In the year 1886 David R. Wike was admitted as a member of the firm of D. M. Bare and Company and became the master mechanic which position he held until his death. In the year 1887 Jacob Eby (107) died and his interest in the property was purchased by the surviving partners. The mill has now run nearly fifty-four years and has had the following managers and superintendents: The managers were John Eby, John Morrison, D. M. Bare, and E. G. Bobb. The following named persons were superintendents: John Lang, Frederick Kaufman, John Scott, E. C. Dixon, S. R. Wagg, Geo. Ehrhart, Eli Garber, Chas. Mickle, Joseph Spencer and Chas. Logan. E. C. Dixon and Eli Garber both served two separate terms. For about forty-one years the business of the mill had been conducted as a partnership business with from three to four partners as owners, but in 1907 the business as incorporated and has since been run as a corporation under the corporate laws of the state. The present officers are: E. G. Bobb, president; D. M. Bare, vice-president; Clarence Hair, secretary; Lewis Garber, treasurer. The directors are : E. G. Bobb, D. M. Bare, Clarence Hair, Lewis Garber and Dr. A. L. Garver. The heads of the different departments at present are as follows: E. G. Bobb, general manager; Lewis Garber, assistant manager; Clarence Hair, manager of sales department; David Gates, general superintendent; Roland Smallwood, superintendent of machine room; Harry M. Detrick, superintendent of beater room; James Garber, superintendent of pulp mill and lime plant; Frank McDonald, superintend- (108) ent of bleach plant; Fred Smallwood, superintendent of finishing department; Edward Butler, superintendent of power plant; Samuel Blattenberger, superintendent of machine and blacksmith shop; Frank Eckard, outside superintendent; Millard Bulger, foreman of repairs; Ross Croyle, electrician; William Stewart, head carpenter; John A. Shultz, superintendent of the frame and box shop; James Bobb, wood purchaser; Melvin Garber, head bookkeeper; Miss Anna Zook, assistant bookkeeper, and Mrs. F. W. Berkhimer, stenographer. Many of the men who have worked in or about the mill have grown gray in the service. A list of those who have been with us twenty years and upwards, and the years they have worked is given below: C. W. McKee 53 John Pressell 30 Wm. Albright 52 Edw. Gates 30 Wm. Heuston 43 Isaac Helsel 30 Harry M. Detrick 42 David Gates 29 Royer Myers 39 John Heuston 29 Geo. Hainly 39 Wm. Nolen 27 Thos. Stevens 39 Edw. Butler 26 Sam'l. Lynn 37 John Herron 26 Geo. Pollard 35 Wm. Steward 26 Thos. Butler 34 Harry Kurtz 25 Millard Bulger 32 Roland Smallw'd 23 Wesley Price 32 Fred Smallwood 23 David Kaufman 32 Jas. E. Garber 22 Lloyd Shaffer 31 Jacob Stonerook 22 (109) Harry Burket 21 Oliver Butler 21 John Feathers 21 David Butler 21 Martin Croyle 21 Henry Stonerook 20 George Lear 20 C. W. McKee began to work the first year the mill started and has worked for us ever since, a period of fifty-three years, and is still able to do a good day's work, and Wm. Albright with a term to his credit of fifty-two years and at the age of seventy-eight is still on the job. (110) Page Blank (111) ROARING SPRING BLANK BOOK CO. In 1886 D. M. Bare formed the acquaintance of George W. Cross, of Saugerties, N.Y., who had for a number of years been manager of a large blank book factory in that city, but at the time of his meeting with Mr. Bare was open for engagement. Mr. Cross urged the erection of a small blank book factory at Roaring Spring and after Mr. Bare had consulted with Mr. Wike and others, he decided to undertake it, and asked Mr. Cross to take charge of a factory at Roaring Spring. A partnership to conduct the new enterprise was then formed by the following: Messrs. D. M. Bare, E. G. Bobb, H. C. Lorenz, D. R. Wike, George W. Cross and Dr. A. L. Garver. Mr. Bare having furnished the entire capital, twenty-five thousand dollars, was elected president of the company, while H. C. Lorenz became general manager and George W. Cross, general superintendent of the factory. The first building was a one-story frame structure, one hundred by one hundred feet square, and by the middle of the year 1887, goods were being turned out and shipped and the new venture promised to be successful. However, adjoining the new frame building was a blacksmith shop and shortly (112) after midnight on Sept. 9th, 1887, the shop caught fire, and the flames being communicated to the factory, it was soon entirely destroyed. The insurance was inadequate to cover the loss, but not being discouraged the firm began the erection of a new two-story brick building on the foundation of the old one. This was completed in 1888, and the plant was again in operation in the summer of that year. Mr. Lorenz resigned from the company in 1889 and Mr. Cross in 1891, leaving their interests to be absorbed by the other members of the firm, A. L. Garver assuming the management. The growth of the plant from this time on was very rapid and the installation of up-to-date machinery and the invention of new machines and processes never before used in the manufacture of blank books, made possible the production of goods which found a ready market. In 1895 an additional three-story brick building, one hundred by fifty feet, was erected to accommodate the growing business, but it was soon necessary to enlarge again, and in 1900, a handsome three-story structure of native blue lime stone sixty by one hundred and eighty- seven feet was built. In 1905 another three-story brick building fifty-seven by one hundred feet was completed, and in 1914 a five-story brick warehouse forty by one hundred and seventy feet was erected. The entire factory now occupies over three acres (113) of floor space and is the third largest establishment of its kind in the world. The goods manufactured include ledgers, day books, etc., of all sizes and bindings, for use in general accounting, counter books, pass books, memorandums, school composition books and tablets. The greater portion of the paper used in the manufacture of these goods is purchased from the D. M. Bare Paper Company, made at their mill in Roaring Spring, and amounts to over one-third of their production. The company employs a corps of salesmen who cover every part of the United States and Canada, Cuba and Porto Rico, and they are also represented in South America, the Philippines, Hawaii, and London, England. The present officers of the company are: E. G. Bobb, President; J. W. Smith, Vice-President; Dr. A. L. Garver, Treasurer, and Ivan E. Garver, Secretary. These officers together with Mrs. Anna Bare Eldon constitute the Board of Directors. Those in charge of the operations of the company at this time are: Dr. A. L. Garver, General Manager, J. W. Smith, General Superintendent; Ivan E. Garver, Sales Manager; Russell B. Garver, Assistant Sales Manager; Jas. S. Williams, Chief Accountant; L. Oder Burket, Assistant Accountant; Frank K. Lorenz, Traffic Manager; Ira L. Dick, Superintendent of School Goods Department; Eugene Sullivan, Superintendent of Full (114) Bound Department; W. Fred Garver, Supt. of Sewing Room; David Dick, Supt. of Memorandum Department; Warren Zook, Supt. of Ruling Department; Lawrence Swoope, Supt. of Printing Department; Sam'l. Gates, Chief Machinist; L. F. Horner, Chief Engineer. Among the officials and employees who have been with the company more than twenty years are the following: Dr. A. L. Garver, J. W. Smith, J. S. Williams, F. K. Lorenz, Ira L. Dick, W. Fred Garver, D. L. Dick, W. E. Zook, Jacob McKee, Jesse C. Williams, Roy Hileman, Edgar Daniels, Josiah Hite, John Smaltz, Blaine Butler, Kate Myers, Susan Price, Lily Snively, Fannie Snively, H. D. Butler and A. D. Heuston. At least two things are essential to the successful operation of any manufacturing plant, the one is mechanical efficiency and the other is business efficiency; both of these elements of success are well developed in Dr. A. L. Garver, to whom is due the large measure of success that has come to the Roaring Spring Blank Book Co. during his twenty-eight years of successful management. In 1891 when he took over the management the factory was a small non-paying industry but under the efficient management of Dr. Garver it has now become one of the largest as well as one of the best equipped factories of its kind in existence. (115) THE PLANING MILL The Roaring Spring Planing Mill was built in the year 1887, D. M. Bare & Company, Akers, Galbraith & Company, and John N. Shaffer, each owning one- fourth, and David S. Brumbaugh, Esq., Dr. A. S. Stayer and Edward Hair the remainder, with John N. Shaffer as superintendent. This firm built the Park Hotel, now the Nason hospital, in 1888. They continued in business till 1897 and had done quite a lot of building in the town and elsewhere, but it had not been a paying institution. It was, therefore, put up at public sale in 1897 and was bought by D. M. Bare & Company, the members of this firm then were D. M. Bare and D. R. Wike. In the year 1898 they sold a one-third interest to William A. Feight, who became the manager and continued in charge of the business until 1906. In the year 1901 Lewis Garber was admitted as a partner and D. R. Wike retired. On the retirement of Mr. Feight, Dr. A. L. Garver bought his interest and became owner of one-third of the property and business. On the retirement of Mr. Feight in 1906, John A. Shultz became the superintendent of the mill and Erastus Garber was placed in charge of the office. (116) The Planing Mill Company has built nearly all the buildings in Roaring Spring and many outside of the town, and in addition has sold much lumber from its lumber yard. This company also has a coal yard connected with the mill which has supplied the most of the coal for domestic use in the town all these years, the coal yard having been in existence before the Planing Mill was built. (117) THE ICE PLANT In the year 1908 William Barnett and William Hoover erected an ice plant with a daily capacity of eight thousand points, which operated until 1911. This plant proved to be too small to supply the increased demand for ice. It was decided to install one with a daily capacity of thirty-thousand pounds, and at the same time add an ice cream plant of five hundred gallons daily capacity and also a creamery. In the year 1914 William Barnett bought Mr. Hoover's interest in the plant and Mr. Hoover retired. The business was continued by Mr. Barnett till 1915 when the property was sold at assignee's sale, and D. M. Bare was the purchaser. The property is now owned by D. M. Bare, Dr. A. L. Garver and Lewis Garber and the Roaring Spring Bank with William Barnett as lessee. Ice has become a necessity and the ice plant is now one of the important industries of the town. During the summer season the ice wagon makes daily deliveries of ice to all parts of the town and the surplus not needed here is sent to other towns. (118) THE ELDON INN Roaring Spring is unique in its hotel business. Public sentiment is overwhelmingly in favor of temperance and the public desire has been respected by the Court and no license has been granted for more than thirty years. However, the rapid growth of the town and the necessity for a good public house caused fear that a license for the sale of liquor might be granted. Accordingly, D. M. Bare, E. G. Bobb, Dr. A. L. Garver and Dr. Wm. Eldon erected and equipped a first-class hotel as a house where travelers and boarders could find accommodations, but strictly without the sale of liquor. The house is a brick structure, spacious and fitted up with all the modern up-to-date appliances that make for comfort and convenience. Its construction and furnishing cost about twenty-five thousand dollars. In license court Judge Bell remarked that if all the towns would do as Mr. Bare had done at Roaring Spring, no license would be granted, for the reason that the traveling public were already provided for. The above account of the Eldon Inn is taken from Jesse Sell's History of Blair County, published in 1911. In addition to what Mr. Sell has to say (119) about the Eldon Inn, I will insert several testimonials giving the opinion of the traveling public. Mr. Benj. F. Perry, of Jonesboro, Georgia, writes to his home paper: "In addition to the many other excellent things that distinguish the town, it has a hotel, the Eldon Inn, that is the equal of any and superior to many in its service, table and accommodations generally, with no bar room or other serious objection so characteristic of many other places throughout the state." Mr. Frank R. McClure, traveling salesman for the D. S. Walton Paper House, of New York City, says, "The Eldon Inn is one of the finest hotels I stop at; the accommodations are as good if not better than most of the $4.00 a day hotels." Rev. Daniel Longenecker, of Paoli, Missouri, wrote to his home paper, saying "I never saw as fine a hotel at a small place as they have in Roaring Spring." Mr. Hurlburt was the architect of the Eldon Inn, and the Planing Mill Company were the contractors. It was built during the summer of 1907, and was rented to Simon Kauffman, who with his wife took possession of it in December of that year. For the past twelve years they have continued to cater to the traveling public, quite satisfactorily, as the foregoing testimonials would indicate. (120) THE ROARING SPRING BANK In January, 1902, the following named persons met in the office of D. M. Bare and then and there decided to organize the Roaring Spring Bank: D. M. Bare, E. G. Bobb, Edward Hair, Dr. Wm. M. Eldon, Clarence Hair, S. H. Cree, E. C. Korb, Lewis Garber, and E. A Feight. All the above, including Wilson Hair, became the stockholders of the new bank, which was to begin business with a capital of twenty-five thousand dollars. D. M. Bare was chosen president and E. A. Feight, Secretary. A location was selected for the bank building, adjoining Grant Hite's furniture store, on which a two-story stone building was erected. On Aug. 26th, 1902, the bank opened for business, with D. M. Bare, President, and S. H. Cree, Cashier. The following named persons were the first depositors: Albert Marsden, J. B. Miller, Royer Myers, J. E. Gorsuch, H. C. Lorenz, Mrs. Martha Eldon, J. M. Hite, Nicholas Clouse and D. M. Bare & Company. The bank showed net earnings up to Jan'y. 1st, 1903, one hundred and seventy-two dollars and sixty-eight cents, and in 1903 the earnings were three thousand, four hundred and sixty-four dollars and seventeen cents. In April, 1906, E. A. Feight sold his stock (121) to D. M. Bare and retired from the partnership and at the same time Mr. S. H. Cree was elected a director in the place vacated by Mr. Feight. The first dividend was declared Jan'y. 1st, 1907, for the year 1906, of 6 per cent. In 1909 Wilson Hair died and his stock was bought by the surviving partners, and on Sept. 14th, 1910, E. C. Korb died and his stock was bought by E. G. Bobb. On May 18th, 1911, Dr. William M. Eldon died and his stock was purchased by his wife, Anna Bare Eldon. In January, 1912, D. M. Bare transferred twenty shares of his stock to Ivan E. Garver and he was elected a director. In January, 1913, twenty-five thousand dollars was transferred from the surplus fund of the bank to the capital, making the capital stock fifty thousand dollars. In the same month, D. M. Bare transferred forty shares of his stock to Russell B. Garver, and he was elected a director, and in the same month E. G. Bobb transferred forty-six shares of his stock to his wife, Mrs. E. G. Bobb. On January twelfth, 1916, D. M. Bare declined a further election as president, and E. G. Bobb was elected President; Ivan E. Garver, Vice-President, and S. H. Cree was elected cashier. From august, 1902 to May, 1905, Mr. Cree as cashier attended to all the business of the bank. At this latter date, John E. Stern was employed as an assistant. For the next seven and one-half years they at- (122) tended to all the business but in January, 1913, David K. Loose was employed as bookkeeper. During the summer of 1916 Hobart Hair was employed as an assistant for the summer months. In January, 1918, Miss Marie Gates was employed as stenographer. During the absence of John E. Stern, assistant cashier, in 1918, Daniel Rhodes was employed as the bookkeeper and David K. Loose was assistant cashier. The bank issued the following statement January thirty-first, 1920: Liabilities Individual Deposits $589,298.15 Cashier's and Certified Checks 1,000.02 Surplus 55,000.00 Capital Stock 50,000.00 Undivided Profits 2,512.84 Profit and Loss 2,842.31 ___________ $700,653.32 Resources Due from Banks $111,991.63 Cash in Bank 30,935.70 Banking House and Fixtures 12,598.31 Bonds 311,746.49 Loans, etc. 80,461.08 U.S. Bonds 39,871.86 Victory Bonds 2,048.25 ___________ $700,653.32 This bank did not declare any dividend (123) the first four years but every year since then it has paid satisfactory dividends to its stockholders, has increased its capital stock to fifty thousand dollars, and has now a surplus of fifty-five thousand dollars. It has never paid any interest on deposits and it has the implicit confidence of the public as is shown by its more than eight hundred depositors. (124) ROARING SPRING LIGHT, HEAT AND POWER COMPANY Roaring Spring is fortunate in having had the convenience of electric lights for almost thirty years, having had a lighting plant long before most towns of its size. In 1892 Dr. A. L. Garver, then manager of the Roaring Spring Blank Book Company, decided to install electric lights in the factory and to make the equipment large enough to supply the town. In the fall of 1892 the current was first supplied for residence lighting in Roaring Spring and the service has ever since been operated in connection with the power plant of the Blank Book Company. In 1917 it was made a separate industry by being incorporated under the name of Roaring Spring Light, Heat and Power Company with Ivan E. Garver as President, and Dr. A. L. Garver as Secretary and Treasurer. The present equipment consists of two direct connected 120 volt, 600 ampere, G. E. Generators and one 120 volt, 600 ampere G. E. belt driven Generator, both direct current. Almost five hundred homes and business establishments are supplied with light, and power is supplied to operate motors used for various purposes. Twenty-four hour service is maintained and very few in- (125) terruptions have occurred in the operation of the plant. The exhaust steam from the engines is utilized to heat a number of residences and several business establishments. The capacity of the plant for furnishing light and power has been gradually increased and is now ample for some years to come. (126) THE ROARING SPRING NEWS The first newspaper of Roaring Spring was started Nov. 11th, 1904, by Charles M. Berkhimer, of Bedford County, and it was called the Roaring Spring Review. It was first issued from the second story of the Roaring Spring Bank. Mr. Berkhimer sold his paper to Mr. Amos Claar in the year 1906. Mr. Claar bought the D. S. Brumbaugh dwelling and law office on East Main Street, enlarging the law office and moving the printing plant into it, from which the paper has since been issued, under the title of the "News" and later the "Roaring Spring News." Mr. Claar continued to issue the paper until the first of June, 1913, when he sold it to D. M. Bare. At that date Mr. Bare leased the plant to Mr. Isaac Mock, who was editor and publisher of the paper until July 1st, 1914, at which time the paper again changed hands, R. D. Lorenz, Esq., and his brother, Harold, becoming the proprietors. Harold Lorenz met with an accident which caused his death November 25th, 1915, and since then R. D. Lorenz, Esq., has been the editor and publisher. (127) RETAIL BUSINESS HOUSES In addition to the various business enterprises whose history has been discussed in some detail, a number of other prosperous and growing concerns in various lines of business are located in Roaring Spring. Although many of them have been in existence since the town's very early days, space does not permit a history of each one, but the following list is given, firms in the same line of business being grouped together. (128) GENERAL STORES Roaring Spring Department Store, A. D. Mingle, Mgr. Snyder's Economy Store, G. W. Snyder, Prop. H. G. Hair. S. H. & W. J. Garber. H. Berman. J. P. Martin. Carper Bros. C. Z. Replogle. SHOES AND SHOE REPAIRING J. B. Miller. Frank Slick. FURNITURE AND UNDERTAKING Grant Hite. JEWELRY STORE E. L. Brenneman. DRUG STORES Lambert's Pharmacy, R. A. Lambert, Proprietor. Hite's Drug Store, Earle M. Hite, Prop. CONFECTIONERY AND ICE CREAM B. Dughi. HARDWARE STORE R. W. Walters. (129) TIN SHOP W. W. Steele. PLUMBERS R. C. Ferry. F. L. Tappan. BAKERY J. C. Hamer. BLACKSMITH SHOP J. E. Gorsuch. GARAGES Morrison's Cove Garage, Melvin Shaffer, Prop. Mattern's Garage, R. K. Mattern, Prop. TIRE REPAIR AND VULCANIZING J. Herbert Stephens. RESTAURANTS Metzker's Restaurant, Fred Metzker, Prop. Price's Restaurant, H. C. Price, Prop. MEAT MARKETS Yingling and Kinzer. W. M. Barnett. D. S. Kagarise. BARBER SHOPS C. E. Vanderau. Roy A. Greene. Frank Erhardt. (130) COAL AND BUILDING SUPPLIES The Planing Mill Company. J. E. Gilliland. NEWS STAND Charles McGee. INSURANCE AGENCY H. C. Lorenz & Son. (131) THE CHURCH OF GOD In 1869 W. J. Galbraith and family moved to Roaring Spring, and A. F. Books and family came in 1871. They were both Church of God families and Rev. P. D. Collins obtained permission to hold services in the public school building in 1869. Rev. Collins was then pastor of the Morrison's Cove and Stonerstown circuit, and lived at Martinsburg. His field included practically all that now constitutes the Martinsburg, Saxton, Six Mile Run, and Roaring Spring charges, and now embraces twelve organized churches. The organization of the church was effected in 1872, with Rev. W. L. Jones as pastor. There were about a dozen charter members, all of whom have now passed to their eternal reward. From this small beginning the church has steadily advanced, until at this writing it has a membership of 272. Two sons of this church, George L. Cowen and Robert L. Crawford, entered the gospel ministry. At the first organization David M. Baird was elected (or probably appointed) elder, and W. J. Galbraith, deacon. The changes in officers have not been frequent, as is shown in the fact that the offices of elder and deacon have been filled for forty-seven years by twenty-nine persons. The (132) present elders are: D. M. Bare, R. Smallwood, D. M. Gates, Clarence Hair and G. K. Loose. The deacons are: D. K. Loose, J. A. Shultz, E. G. Carper, J. E. Stern, and William Shaffer. The church has had sixteen pastors, all of whom were members of the East Pennsylvania Eldership. Their names are as follows: W. J. Jones appointed in 1872; G. W. Seilhammer, 1874; G. W. Coulter, 1876; H. E. Reever, 1877; J. H. Esterline, 1879; J. M. MacDannald, 1880, (six months' supply); George Sigler, 1881; D. S. Shoop, 1883; C. C. Bartels, 1885; M. M. Foose, 1888; G. W. Getz, 1894; W. J. Schaner, 1896; C. H. Grove, 1898; George Sigler, 1907; D. S. Shoope, 1909; J. A. Detter, 1914. Only revs. Bartels, Getz, Schaner, Grove and the present pastor are now living. This appointment was made a station in 1888. The ministers named prior to that time lived at Martinsburg, and served this church as a part of the Morrison's Cove Circuit. The church has always been loyal to the general interests of the body to which it belongs, and has contributed regularly to the support of the missionary, educational, and benevolent causes, which the East Pennsylvania Eldership and the General Eldership seek to promote. The sum total of these offerings for the year just closed amounts to about $1800.00. The Sunday School was organized in (133) April, 1873. The organization has been maintained as a Church of God School with the exception of two years, 1879 and 1880, when it was conducted as a union school in conjunction with the Lutheran School. The records for the first nine years show an attendance ranging from forty to seventy each Sunday, and the weekly offerings averaging about sixty cents. The growth of the school is best shown by comparing these figures with the latest report (1919), which shows an enrollment of 344; average attendance 211; home department of 44 and a cradle roll of 35; total offerings for the year, $987.31. The school has had eight superintendents, as follows: D. M. Bare, A. F. Books, Geo. L. Cowen, J. P. Shoemaker, E. A. Feight, Roland Smallwood, Clarence Hair and E. G. Carper. Two of the original members of the school are still identified with its work, namely, D. M. Bare and Mrs. E. G. Bobb. The Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor was organized march 5th, 1889, with just a dozen members. It has continued to do good work in its field of training and developing the workers of the Church. A Junior Society was organized in 1896, which has had a great influence on the child life of the church, and much credit belongs there for many of the children becoming members of the church. For a number of years this Junior society has supported (134) an Indian boy in training school. John E. Stern is the president of the Senior Society, and Miss Esther Shiffler has for a number of years superintended the work of the Juniors. The Ladies' Aid Society of this Church was organized July 16, 1896, with 27 charter members. It has been a most important factor in the temporal affairs of the church, and its helpful hand has been put to practically every financial burden the church has had to lift, the total contribution amounting to upwards of $5,000.00. The officers are: President, Mrs. Clarence Hair; First Vice- President, Mrs. Geo. Snively; Second Vice-President, Mrs. Books; Secretary, Mrs. E. G. Bobb; Assistant Secretary, Mrs. J. A. Detter; Treasurer, Mrs. Roland Smallwood. The church has had three buildings, located on as many different sites. The first building was located on Poplar Street, north of Spang Street. It was a frame structure, 28 x 36 feet and cost about $1,100.00. Its completion dates from about the time of the organization of the church, and the dedicatory services were held Dec. 29th, 1972. The sermon was preached by Rev. J. B. Soule. This buildings still stands and has been occupied as a dwelling for many years. The second house of worship was erected on East Main Street, on the site now occupied by the residence of Mr. James Smith. It was also a frame building, 35 x 55 feet, and cost about $3,500.00. Rev. George Sigler (135) dedicated this building February 6, 1881. It served the needs of the congregation well until it was destroyed by fire on the morning of February 24, 1889. The present house of worship at East Main and Spang Streets, was projected immediately after the burning of the other, and was dedicated December 1, 1889, Dr. Sigler again officiating. The original cost of this structure was about $9500.00. The building has been improved and enlarged several times. A room has been added for the primary department of the Sunday School; the Ladies' Aid Society has built its own work room in which it held its first meeting May 12, 1904. In 1916 the main Sunday School room was enlarged, and provision made for modern, separate class rooms; a new boiler was installed; the whole building was re-frescoed, and other repairs made at a total expense of $6,780.00. A reopening service was held October 18, at which Dr. W. N. Yates preached. A baptistery was installed and used for the first time in February, 1903, and since then 277 persons have received the ordinance of baptism there. A splendid two-manual Estey pipe organ was purchased in 1913 at a cost of $2,100.00. The parsonage building was erected in 1895, and cost $2,100.00. The church is free from debt, and the value of its property at present is estimated at $23,000.00, and the prospects for successful work in the future are excellent. (136) THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH Nine years after the beginning of Methodism in America or in the year 1775, the Wesleyan Itinerant began to tell the good news of an experimental religion in Huntingdon, Pa. From this point Methodism spread rapidly over the area indicated by the names of the following towns: Philipsburg, Warriors-Mark, Williamsburg and Bedford. The work of Methodism practically began in the community now known as Roaring Spring, when the Methodist preacher reached Morrison's Cove. In the year 1802 the renowned Rev. Jacob Gruber served as preacher on the Huntingdon circuit and at that time Morrison's Cove was listed among the appointments of this extended charge. Mr. Gruber, speaking of the work, said, "We had a wilderness to clear and cultivate. The handful of corn among the mountains grew, the Lord gave the increase and we gave Him the glory in public congregations and frequently in loud shouts in family worship." The extension of Christianity through Methodism in the community now known as Roaring Spring, may be seen in at least three ways: First, in the necessary adjust- (137) ment of the charges. The old original Huntingdon circuit was broken in pieces and new charges made of the broken parts. In the year 1829 the community now known as Roaring Spring became a part of the Williamsburg charge. It was in the year after this adjustment that the Class which became the Roaring Spring Methodist Episcopal Church was organized at Rodman, knowns at that time as "Middle Maria Forges." Williamsburg circuit then included twenty-two preaching places, among the number is named, Woodbury, Hopewell, Loysburg and Martinsburg. In the year 1854 the Williamsburg charge was divided and Maria Forge became a part of the Woodbury charge. Another readjustment took place in 1867 and the community now known as Roaring Spring became a part of the Martinsburg charge, each adjustment meaning the narrowing of the scope of territory on the charge because of the extension of the work. The work advanced until in 1886 Roaring Spring has a place in the official title of the charge, for in that year, we read in the Conference Minutes, of a charge called, "Martinsburg and Roaring Spring." These adjustments continued until 1890 when Roaring Spring became a station. The record of material advance must be placed beside this progress indicated by the readjustments of the charge. In 1830 Dr. (138) Peter Shoenberger had a stone building erected at Rodman to be used both as a school and church. The Methodist Class was organized in this building. This society, no doubt, struggled on, adding from time to time members while using this stone structure. In 1865 and '66, during the pastorate of James M. Clarke and Andrew W. Decker, a man by the name of John A. J. Williams moved from Wilmore, Pa., to Roaring Spring. He was a local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church and immediately made himself felt as a member of the Maria Forges' society. Through his earnest efforts a gracious revival of religion came upon the community and over one hundred souls were saved. The additions in the membership caused by this revival encouraged the society to begin the erection of a new church edifice. This was located in Roaring Spring and it is the building now owned and used to worship by the congregation of Mennonites. After worshipping about twenty-five years in this church the growing society purchased a fine plot of land on the corner of East Main and Spang Streets. On this plot the brick parsonage ever since occupied by the appointed pastor was built. This was during the pastorate of Rev. E. H. Witman, 1893-'97. Rev. Witman also prepared the way for a new church. The work on this church commenced and was completed during the pas- (139) torate of Rev. E. H. Wallace. This achievement is recorded as follows: Corner- stone laid by Rev. M. L. Ganoe, D.D., pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal church, Altoona, Pa., May 24th, 18989; church edifice completed and dedicated November 29th, 1898, Dr. E. J. Gray, president of Williamsport Dickinson Seminary, preached in the evening and conducted the dedicatory services; Rev. Dr. Geo. Edward Reed, D.D., LLD., president of Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa., was present and preached the morning sermon. Other ministers present during the day were Rev. Dr. David Monroe, the Presiding Elder, Revs. Jesse R. Akers, E. H. Witman, Joshua K. Lloyd, J. A. J. Williams, C. H. Grove, of the Church of God, and Rev. E. H. Wallace, the pastor. Minor improvements were introduced from time to time after the building of the new church until the pastorate of Rev. Edwin L. Eslinger, when the church was completely remodeled at a cost of twelve thousand dollars. This was in the year 1916 and the reopening service was held Sunday, June 26th; the Rev. John Krantz, D.D., of New York City, preached in the morning and in the evening, managing the financial effort. Dr. Emery M. Stevens, the District Superintendent, was also present at the services. After these years of effort on the part of this faithful people it is not extravagant to estimate the property owned by this church (140) corporation at fifty thousand dollars, and the native limestone church edifice is one of the most artistic in use by Methodist people in this part of the state. The history of this church society may also be told by an allusion to the number of members and reference to its many vigorous auxiliaries. When the Rev. Jacob Gruber preached from Huntingdon to Phillipsburg, and then from Phillipsburg across valley and mountain to Bedford, there were no more than four hundred members or Methodists in this great territory. The Methodists in this area would now number close to twenty-three thousand and the Roaring Spring charge has more members on its church roll than the old original circuit could count. The present membership of the church is four hundred and fifty while in addition to this there are twenty-three preparatory members enrolled. The Sunday School is a thriving department of the Church. It is divided into departments with Mr. J. S. Williams as the efficient general superintendent. At present there are enrolled four hundred and seventy-five, and in addition twenty-five are enrolled in the home department and forty-two in the cradle roll. The largest attendance on any one Sunday during the year 1919 was three hundred and forty-six. The largest offering on any one Sunday during the year was the offering for this Rally Day (141) referred to, when the attendance was three hundred and forty-six, the offering amounting to three hundred and forty-six dollars. The average weekly attendance for the year 1919 was two hundred and seventy-six. One of the permanent features of the school is that of teacher training. You may enter the Sunday School at any time and enter a class for teacher training. Dr. A. L. Garver is the efficient teacher of this class. The school is very benevolent, giving to the general benevolences of the church the sum of five hundred dollars, annually. The young peoples' society or the Epworth League has a membership of ninety and is doing a creditable work. Its devotional meeting is held every Sabbath evening before the regular preaching service. The Junior League is studying Bible, Church History and Catechism. This is the church society which prepares young boys and girls for church membership. The Aid Society of the church has a large membership and works to pay or help pay any pledge the church may take upon itself in behalf of the religious interests of the community; it is also the committee on parsonage. The Women's Foreign Missionary Society is well organized and meets monthly for the study of missions and for regular business sessions; it pays this year one hundred and ninety-seven dollars to the Women's Foreign Missionary Society of the (142) Methodist Episcopal Church. There is also a society of King's Heralds which help the Women's Foreign Missionary Society to pay its large annual offering to the Missionary Treasury. A Boys' Club has been organized for the purpose of encouraging church attendance on the part of the boys and for the protection of the boys socially and physically. All of these auxiliaries with many of the organized Bible classes are doing a noble religious and social work for the benefit of their members and others. These societies and the fine spirit they express make the church what it is as a social and spiritual power in the community. It may be proper to remark, before closing with the names of pastors who efficiently served the church and the names of the present officiary, that the Methodist Episcopal church in Roaring Spring is known for its benevolence. It can be depended upon to be faithful and loyal to all the interests of the general church. When the great centenary effort to raise one hundred and thirteen million dollars was on throughout the Methodist Episcopal church the quota of the Roaring Spring church was four thousand and sixty-two dollars After a little preliminary organization the solicitors were sent through the church and with little effort reported back that the Roaring Spring charge would go "over the top" so that the Roaring Spring Methodist Episcopal (143) church is now paying for missions, foreign and home, and the other benevolences of the church the annual sum of four thousand and sixty-two dollars. The Roaring Spring Methodist Episcopal Church has been fortunate in the ministers that have served during the many years of its history. The names and the year or years of service of the ministers who directed the work from the time of the building of the old church in Roaring Spring are here given: 1867, Revs. John Morehead and J. A. Woodcock; 1868, D. B. McCloskey and L. A Rudisill; 1869-'71, J. W. Leckie; 1872-'74, D. Castleman; 1875-'76, J. W. Cleaver and R. P. Campbell; 1877, William Gwynn and J. F. Craig; 1878, William Gwynn and J. A. Wood, Jr.; 1879-'81, Martin L. Smith; 1882-'84, Isaac Heckman; 1885-'86, Wm. A. Carver; 1887-'89, W. W. Reese; 1890-'92, Franklin M. Welsh; 1893-'97, E. H. Witman; 1898-'99, E. H. Wallace; 1900-'05, Geo. M. Glenn, 1906-'09, J. H. Price; 1910-'12, F. W. Biddle; 1913-'17, Edwin L. Eslinger; 1918, the present pastor, Alvin S. Williams. The space allowed for this brief history of the church made impossible personal reference to the many noble laymen who cooperated in making this substantial church the great success it has been. Some of these brethren have been connected for years with the church and have given time and talent and means to advance Christianity, through (l44) this, church of their choice. Present Trustees - H. C. Lorenz, Grant Hite, Robert E. Garber, H. G. Hair, L. F. Garber, J. S. Williams, Dr. A. L. Garver, James W. Smith, Roy A. Green. Present Stewards - J. S. Williams, L. F. Garber, L. A. Garber, Dr. A. L. Garver, C. D. Green, L. Oder Burket, Ivan E. Garver, Walter A. Hite, S. H. Garber, F. K. Lorenz, John Heuston, J. Herbert Stephens, W. A. Stephens, H. M. Treese, R. E. Garber, Thos. Butler, L. P. Swoope, C. E. Vanderau, Dr. F. B. Berkhimer, C. W. Zook, R. A. Green, J. C. Williams, H. C. Lorenz. The other officers are: Class Leader, Thos. Bookhammer; Supt. Of Sunday Schools, J. S. Williams; Supt. of Teen Age Dept., R. A. Green; Supt. Of Primary Dept., Ethel Craig; Pres. Of Epworth League, J. Blaine Thomas; Pres. Of Junior League, Mrs. F. K. Lorenz; Pres. Of Aid Society, Mrs. Minnie Zook; Pres. W. F. M. S., Mrs. H. C. Lorenz, Secretary of Official Board, C. D. Green. (145) ST. LUKE'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH The Lutheran Church here dates from 1851. November 2d of that year Rev. Joseph Fichtner from Gettysburg Theological Seminary became pastor of the Martinsburg charge. He soon began preaching in the school house at Spang's Mill, now Roaring Spring. In 1852 the Martinsburg charge was divided and Rev. Fichtner continued to serve the Newry portion, including Spang's Mill. By an agreement dated June 6th, 1855, Pastor Fichtner and his people secured from Geo. B. Spang, a Lutheran and leading citizen of the town, a lot "for church purposes, on the Morrison's Cove Turnpike (near the Graveyard Field Gate, a gate that opened on a lane since converted into Girard street)." This lot was exchanged by "Adam Mosey, Jacob Coltabaugh and Joseph Kelly, deacons of the Lutheran congregation at Newry, duly empowered and authorized to act in the matter by an article of agreement dated July 18th, 1857, with the administrators and heirs of G. B. Spang, deceased" (Blair County Deed Book I. pp. 65-66). For the then more central lot oppo- (146) site the present (1920) depot. The title by this deed being defective, January 18th, 1858, Job E. Spang and his wife, Rachel E. "to remedy said defect, and perfect the title to said lot," gave another deed to "Jacob Snowberger, Elder, George Clugh, Deacon, and Robert Todd, Trustee, officers (and their successors in office) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church at Spang's Mill." On this lot there had been erected in 1856 a brick one-story church building, thirty by forty-five feet, and costing sixteen hundred dollars. The corner- stone was laid June 27th, 1856, Rev. P. Sahm preaching the sermon for I Peter 2:6. This work was presumably directed by the above named Newry deacons, as the property was deeded to be a part of Newry charge. The Spang's Mill, afterwards Roaring Spring, congregation was organized Saturday, July 4th, 1857. The following day, July 5th, 1857, the church building was dedicated, Rev. J. Kunkleman preaching on this occasion. Names of the original members of the congregation are not known nor the first church officers, except those named above, elected July 12th, 1857. In 1865 when Rev. P. S. Hooper was pastor at Martinsburg, Roaring Spring was again added to Martinsburg charge. A very trying situation had developed in the Roaring Spring congregation at the close of Rev. Fichtner's pastorate. Rev. Hooper (147) rendered very valuable services and succeeded in again bringing about normal conditions. In 1869 the church property was "nailed up by the sheriff to be sold for debt." Henry B. Walter and his wife, Anna Eliza Walter, with Pastor Streamer persuaded the heirs of a delinquent subscriber to the church debt to pay the three hundred dollars and interest due from that source, and the balance of over six hundred dollars, Mr. And Mrs. Walter paid themselves. This explains the memorial window and marble tablet, respectively, to these deceased members. In 1885 a release of the Roaring Spring church property from the Newry charge was secured. By 1886 the growth of the congregation as well as the town made a better located and more commodious church building desirable. The old location was also rendered objectionable by the railroad built directly past the front of the church. The present location, corner of East Main and Girard Streets, near, if not identical with, the original "Graveyard Field Gate" lot, was secured for two thousand dollars. The corner-stone for the new church was laid May 1st, 1887, Rev. E. D. Weigle, D. D., of Altoona, preaching the sermon, Rev. S. J. Taylor, D. D., of Williamsburg, assisting in the services, and Rev. E. Dutt, the pastor, laying the corner-stone. Below this corner- (148) stone, the old corner-stone from the first church building, dated 1856, was laid. The mason work in laying these stones in both buildings was done by Brother John Mohr. Who still abides with us (February, 1920). The present church building was dedicated March 25th, 1888. Rev. J. H. Menges of Philadelphia, preached the sermon, and Rev. J. H. Henderson of Newry, assisted the pastor. The church was of brick, forty-four by sixty-nine feet, with tower, auditorium, Sunday School room and primary room. The cost was seven thousand five hundred dollars. A church charter was secured June 22nd, 1887. At a meeting of the joint council of Martinsburg charge, February 12th, 1889, the Roaring Spring congregation asked permission to withdraw and form a separate pastorate. The request was granted and went into effect April 7th, of the same year. In 1893 during the pastorate of Rev. W. H. Hilbish, D.D., the present parsonage was bought for fourteen hundred and fifty dollars. In 1897 during the pastorate of Rev. J. R. Sample, the old parsonage building between the present parsonage and the church was removed and the lot converted into a lawn, and the present parsonage was much improved, to which later improvements have also been made. (149) In 1906 the Church building was largely rebuilt. The old tower was razed, the front gable moved out ten feet, and the present three towers built. An annex of fifteen feet was added to the rear of the building, making the length ninety- four feet. The interior was re-arranged and mostly re-furnished, including the installation of an Estey Pipe Organ, the total cost of the changes being about ten thousand dollars. In 1911 by the wills of the Misses Susan B. and Elizabeth B. Snowberger, the congregation received an endowment of three thousand dollars in cash and a fifteen hundred dollar endowment in the Jacob Snowberger, (now Jacob H. Kauffman) farm at East Sharpsburg. In 1915-16 the church was thoroughly renovated, repaired and improved at a cost of about three thousand dollars. In 1914 the parsonage was likewise much improved in its interior. The Sunday School has existed almost from the beginning of the Church. Its superintendents longest in service have been: Samuel Wilderson, Henry B. Walter, D. D. Brumbaugh, Esq., Dr. A. S. Stayer and Prof. J. K. Ritchey. Other superintendents have been G. M Garner, and the present incumbent, Ira W. Lindsey. The enrollment for 1919 was three hundred and eight, average attendance two hundred and one. Total offerings for the year were six hundred and (150) seventy-eight dollars and three cents. The Christian Endeavor Society was organized July, 1892. Its first president was Mrs. J. W. Bogart, nee Mess Minnie M. Slick. The present officers are: President, Sylvester Emeigh; vice-president, Mrs. J. W. Bogart; secretary, Miss Ruth Liebegott; treasurer, Miss Lena Ayers. A Ladies' Aid and Missionary Society was organized by Rev. F. S. Delo in 1900. In 1914 this was divided, and a separate Women's Home and Foreign Missionary Society was organized by Mrs. H. E. Berkey, the Aid Society continuing as a separate organization. The Aid Society during its existence has raised something over twenty-five hundred dollars. The present officers are: President, Mrs. Geo. Hengst; secretary, Mrs. J. W. Bogart; treasurer, Mrs. H. M. Hileman. The Women's Missionary Society while associated with the Aid Society raised about three hundred dollars for missionary purposes. Since its existence as a separate organization it has raised nearly five hundred dollars more, making a total of eight hundred dollars. The present officers are: President, Mrs. H. E. Berkey; vice-president, Mrs. W. A. Nason; corresponding secretary, Mrs. R. C. Ferry; recording secretary, Mrs. Oscar Smith; treasurer, Mrs. J. W. Bogart. A Cradle Roll is connected with the Sun- (151) day School, and also with the Missionary Society. Children up to three years of age belong to the Sunday School Roll, and number thirty-one. Children up to six years of age belong to the Missionary Roll, and number fifty-nine. Mrs. J. W. Bogart organized the Cradle Roll in 1912 and has been its superintendent every since. The Home Department of the Sunday School has been in existence for probably ten years or more. Definite information is not available, owing to its nature it has a variable enrollment. It now numbers about thirty in summer and about fifty in winter. The Church also had in years past a "Brotherhood." It flourished for a few years, did a good work, especially along social lines, then ceased to exist. Recently a men's society was organized under the name of "The Brotherhood of St. Luke's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Roaring Spring, Pa." The organization has adopted a constitution suggested in the "Brotherhood Manuel" of the United Lutheran Church, with adaptations to local needs. The organization numbers about thirty men. The officers are: President, R. C. Ferry; vice -president, D. M. Miller; secretary, P. S. McGee; treasurer, H. M. Hileman. The Church Council at present are: Rev. H. E. Berkey, president; H. H. Hileman, elder and vice-president; Blaine But- (152) ler, elder; Ross C. Ferry, Geo. H. Guyer and Sylvester Emeigh, deacons. The last also being recording secretary; Miles W. Appleman, David M. Miller and Harry M. Hileman, trustees; W. Fred Garver, treasurer. St. Luke's Pastors have been: Rev. Joseph Fichtner, 1851-1864; Rev. P. S. Hooper, 1864-1866; Rev. J. W. Schwartz, 1866-1867; Rev. P. Sheeder, 1867-1869; Rev. C. L. Steamer, 1869-1873; Rev. D. Stock, 1874-1879;; Rev. E. Dutt, 1880- 1889; Rev. C. P. Harrah, 1889-1891; Rev. B. S. Dise, 1891-1893; Rev. W. H. Hilbish, 1893-1894; Rev. J. R. Sample, 1895-1899; Rev. F. S. Delo, 1900-1901; Rev. J. H. Hill, 1901-1906; Rev. C. E. Keller, D.D., 1906-1913; Rev. H. E. Berkey, 1914 to date (1920). The present confirmed membership is four hundred and fifty-six. (153) THE REFORMED CHURCH Christ Reformed Church is located on the corner of East Main and Cherry streets, on a plot of ground given by Mrs. Mary A. Erb. The building, which consists of auditorium, Sunday School and Primary rooms, and a finished basement, was dedicated June 5, 1904, but the foundation and corner-stone had been laid since July 26 of the previous year. The delay in construction was due to a fire at the planing mill, which had the contract, resulting in the destruction of much material prepared for this building. Prior to the above dates two organizations were effected that did much to gather an aid in the establishment of the congregation. One was the starting of a Sunday School on Oct. 20, 1901, at the home of Mrs. C. E. Yingling (later Mrs. H. L. Riling), located on Grove Street, adjacent to the planing mill. Early in the new year this organization moved to the I. O. O. F. Hall where they held sessions until the Sunday School room of the new church was completed in May, 1904. There were forty-three present at the organization of the Sunday School. Mr. J. H. Stephens was chosen superintendent and held that office for a number of years. Other superintendents have been Messrs. G. K. Myers, W. J. Gar- (154) ber and L. B. Stoudnour, the latter now serving in his sixth year. The Sunday School has grown to an enrollment of one hundred and seventy-two, a cradle roll of 16 and a home department of 15, with an average weekly attendance of one hundred and thirty-three and an average offering of $10.18. The three classes at the beginning have grown to ten, six of which are organized and granted state certificates. For the last five years the Sunday School has met the standard of a front line Sunday School. Twenty-five of its pupils hold Teacher Training Diplomas for the first standard course. The other organization referred to above is the Aid Society, which at first included both men and women, and was started March 27, 1902. The first president was Mrs. F. S. Himes. The one who has held this office the longest is Mrs. S. S. Kauffman, who now occupies that position. The first and only treasurer until Jan. 1st, 1920, was Mrs. Jacob McKee. She is the only officer outside of the Consistory who has seen continuous service since the founding of the Church. The Society was of great service to the young congregation in providing much of the interior furnishings of the building. It has always been very active and deserves much of the credit for the general upkeep of the church property and the financial prosperity of the congregation. (155) The congregation was formally organized Thursday evening, June 2, 1904, in the new building, with sixty-nine charter members. Most of these were transferred from the Reformed Church at East Sharpsburg and Millerstown, persons who had moved to Roaring Spring because of the town's flourishing condition The first Consistory was composed of Elders Andrew N. Baker, G. K. Myers and John Shimer, and Deacons F. S. Himes, D. F. Hengst and H. A. Imler. Messrs. Myers and Himes have served continuously although the latter was promoted to the eldership. Others of the present Consistory are: Elders M. A. Rhodes, and L. B. Stoudnour; Deacons E. B. Garber, W. A. Replogle, F. H. Metzker and H. N. Baker. The congregation was a part of the Hickory Bottom Charge until April 29, 1906. It has steadily grown until it now numbers 200 members. The C. E. Society was organized by Rev. Huffner, March 15, 1905, with thirty- eight active, twelve associate, and two honorary members. Many have found in this organization an excellent opportunity for spiritual development in the expression of religious conviction. While the Society is at present in a healthy condition, its membership is about the same. Miss Elsie Bacon is president. There have been four pastors: Rev. John S. Heffner from May 13, 1906 to Jan. 3., 1909; (156) Rev. Frank R. Lefever from March 1, 1909 to Dec. 1, 1912; Rev. John E. Stone from Feb. 1, 1913 to his death, Mary 20, 1916, and Rev. A. A. Hartman, now serving, since Oct. 4, 1916. The first pastor also served when the church was part of the Hickory Bottom Charge, about two years. The first cost of the building was about $4,000.00. Later it was re-frescoed and recarpeted at a cost of $525.00. Electric lights were added in 1913 at an expense of $185.00. The parsonage was built during the summer of 1909, the building and ground costing $3,500.00 The congregation has always been self- supporting, never having received aid from the Home Mission Board or kindred agencies. It was free of all debts by the fall of 1916. The largest single contribution was $800.00 from Mr. Johann Yingling. Attention has been given to the conducting of its financial matters in a business-like and up-to-date way. The bi-pocket weekly contribution envelope is used. Since June, 1916, an annual report of individual and organizational contributions has been published. The receipts show an increase from about $700.00 to about $2,700. It has endeavored to support all missionary, educational and philanthropic causes of the denomination besides co-operating in inter-denominational efforts. The apportioned benevolence has always been paid in full. Mr. H. H. Stephens in 1912 gave $500.00 to (157) the endowment fund for Ministerial Relief. In the fall of 1917 a fund to improve and enlarge the church building was begun and now amounts to about $1,200.00. The previous fall a parish paper, called "The Monthly Visitor," was started and is greatly appreciated by the shut-ins and distant members. During the great war, this church furnished fifteen young men for the colors, co-operated with the Red Cross, the Loan and War Work drives, and endeavored from the pulpit to present a gospel of hope, and to do its bit in keeping the ideas of the nation high. The congregation has never been in better shape than now to go forward in the work of its Master in the establishment of the Kingdom in the earth to the glory of God the Father. (158) THE ROARING SPRING CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN Among the earliest settlers, members of the Church of the Brethren, in the bounds of Roaring Spring, were Daniel Ullery, who on March 16, 1780, purchased one hundred and sixty-nine acres of land known as "the mill seat land," the Neffs, the Housers, the Hoovers, the Martins, and the Brumbaughs. They set to work, clearing away forests, tilling the soil, building homes and in a quiet way promoting the peace and prosperity of the surrounding community. They were hindered and plundered by the Indians, who no doubt were incensed against the Brethren by the fighting attitude of their Scotch-Irish neighbors. Between twenty and thirty members were massacred in 1777. These early Brethren held their services in homes and in schoolhouses. In 1877 the Clover Creek Church under the eldership of Jno. W. Brumbaugh built a house of worship, south of town. This was formally separated from the Clover Creek congregation in 1898 by a straight line from Oak Grove Schoolhouse to the Rice land. This congregation grew rapidly and soon about one-half of its membership lived in town. (159) There was considerable agitation for a church in town and on Feb. 12, 1910, the council decided to build, and on Oct. 30 of the same year the modern, substantial, brick building, 62x66 feet, on the corner of Bloomfield Street and California Avenue, was dedicated, Elder C. C. Ellis preaching the dedicatory sermon. The church chose Geo. W. Replogle, Jonathan Snowberger and W. E. Hoover as a building committee, and Elder D. B. Maddocks did the architectural work. To this committee the church is much indebted for the substantial building which it now owns at a cost of no more than nine thousand dollars. The Ladies' Aid Society had made the initial movement for the building in town by purchasing the lots for the sum of five hundred dollars. The Aid Society was organized at the old church May 5, 1903. This Society, though never large in numbers, was a great success in furthering the work of the church both spiritually and temporally. Through this society much of the charitable and mission work of the church was done. The charter members of this organization were: Susan Replogle, Tressa Albright, Lottie Hoover, Jennie Maddocks, Nancy Brumbaugh, Lizzie Barnett and Hannah Metzker. The preaching in the Roaring Spring country church was done by the Clover Creek ministers till the separation of the (160) congregations in 1898. From that time on Elders T. B. Maddocks and John R. Stayer who had been called to the ministry in 1885 were called into quite active service. On Aug. 6, 1898, D. B. Maddocks was called to the ministry and give a devoted service to the cause till he left town. Other men who were called to the ministry who had been associated with this church work were; Wm. N. Hoover, called Aug. 4, 1900; D. M. Adams, called Nov., 1904; and later Abraham Replogle and George Replogle, Jr. James A. Sell was chosen first presiding Elder over the town church in 1910, and O. V. Long who had served the congregation as pastor since 1909 succeeded him as Elder, and his work as Elder and Pastor terminated in 1911. Elder D. D. Sell succeeded Elder Long who served a short time when he was succeeded by Prof. T. T. Myers, D.D. as Elder. R. D. Murphy succeeded O. V. Long as pastor and did a good work in organizing the various activities of the church and developing the workers. From June, 1913, till May, 1918, Elder A. G. Crosswhite, formerly of Flora, Ind., served this church as Pastor and Elder. He was well adapted for this period of the congregation's development. From May 25, 1918, M. J. Weaver has served as Pastor and since October of the same year as Elder also. In October, 19198, the church purchased a convenient and suitable parsonage. (161) Those who have served on the deacon board of the church since separation from Clover Creek are: A. J. Pollard, H. H. Rasher, D. M. Adams, Elmer Snowberger, Blair Hoover, Wm. N. Hoover, George W. Replogle, H. A. Brumbaugh, Daniel S. Replogle, Samuel Albright and Jonathan Snowberger, and the present board consisting of Charles Miller, W. E. Hoover, D. O. Miller, U. T. Stuckey, Levi Rhodes, John Brumbaugh and M. W. Sell. The Bible School has been a strong factor in the development of this congregation to its present strength. The Bible School and the Christian Workers' Meeting were both organized in October, 1910. The first superintendent chosen was H. A. Brumbaugh and those who have served since are: Clara Replogle Ferry, Abraham Replogle, John Brumbaugh, and D. Grover Replogle, who is the present superintendent. The average weekly Sunday School attendance for the year is one hundred and ninety-seven, with a Sunday School enrollment of three hundred and twenty-six, and a home department of fifteen and a cradle roll of fifty-five. Since this congregation of Brethren has entered its church home in town in 1910, it has certainly made commendable progress, and the total membership is now three hundred. (162) In 1827 Bishop Jacob Snyder moved from Richfield, Juniata County, to Neffs Mills, Huntingdon County, where there had already settled quite a number of Mennonite families from the eastern part of the state. A church organization was effected and services were held regularly in the community school house. The next active organization of Mennonites in this section was effected at Frankstown, Blair County, shortly after the location of Bishop Snyder of Neffs Mills, Huntingdon County, Bishop Snyder serving the congregation as pastor and Mr. Good serving as deacon (Mr. Good was the grandfather of Mr. Harry Hileman.) At this place a union house of worship was erected by the Mennonites, Dunkards and Lutherans, this being one of the first churches established in Blair County according to the religious history of Blair County by Rev. James A. Sell. Following this, there were two other organizations effected, one, a congregation formed in Woodcock Valley, Huntingdon County, having as Bishop, Jacob Snyder, Minister, Daniel Bookwalter, and Deacon, Benjamin Grave. The other was formed at Martinsburg in 1854; a parcel of ground was deeded to the Mennonite Society by Daniel Rhodes, the same for the purpose of erecting a house (163) of worship and burial ground. In 1855 the church building was completed and the organization of the church consisted of Jacob Snyder, Bishop, Jacob B. Snyder, Jr., Minister, (son of the Bishop), Frederic Rhodes, Minister, Henry Kaufffman, Minister, and Joseph Byers, Deacon. This church was served by the following ministers in addition to those above mentioned, Herman Snyder, Abram Snyder, Abram Metzler and John Durr, while Jacob Snyder, Jr., Frederic Rhodes, Herman Snyder and John Durr served as bishops in the order named. In 1898 at a conference held in Martinsburg, it was decided to purchase the present church building in Roaring Spring from the Methodist Congregation, the same to become a part of the Martinsburg District. The congregation was formed with J. N. Durr as Bishop, and Abram Snyder and Abram Metzler as ministers. In 1902 the congregation because a separate congregation from the Martinsburg District, with Rev. Durr as the Bishop, and Rev. Abram Snyder and Rev. Jacob Hershey serving the congregation as ministers, and John L. Zook, deacon. The first board of trustees was Jacob Snyder, 3rd, Abraham Kauffman and Joseph Kauffman. In addition to the above, the church has been served, up to the present time by Jacob Snyder, 3rd, H. G. Snyder, 2nd, and S. D. Yoder, and the fol- (164) lowing deacons: H. G. Snyder, Aden Kephart, Daniel Snyder and W. O. Kephart. This congregation has been the parent body of four other congregations, viz: Napier, Bedford County Congregation, organized by Rev. Herman G. Snyder; Smith Corner Congregation; Manns Choice, Bedford County Congregation; and Bethany Mennonite Mission, Altoona, Pa. At the last Mennonite Eastern District Conference of which this congregation is a part, a membership of one hundred and eight was reported. The church holds services each Lord's Day, morning and evening, with an active Sunday School and Christian Endeavor Society. Two classes of the Sunday School are organized Bible classes. The congregation is also active in mission enterprise, having been the means of beginning religious work at the above points, furnishing almost entirely from the local organization leaders for the new fields of work. The congregation in conjunction with the Richfield Mennonite Church supports two Bible Women in India. The present Sunday School enrollment is ninety, and the average weekly attendance is fifty-five. They have no home department, but have a Cradle Roll numbering ten members. The Rev. Abram Snyder, first minister of this church, died September 1st, 1916, his son, Rev. Jacob Snyder, is the minister at (165) this time assisted by the Rev. S. D. Yoder. Mr. Herman Snyder, a charter member of this church, became very active in Sunday School and Evangelistic work. He was for three years president of the Fifth Sunday School District of Blair County. He was ordained a minister of the gospel in the Mennonite Church, March 21st, 1912, and was successful in establishing two churches in Bedford County, one of them at Napier and the other one at Manns Choice. Both of these he served faithfully until his death, which occurred September 11th, 1917. Continued . . .