BIO: Peter A. & Daniel V. Ahl, Cumberland County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/ ______________________________________________________________________ History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania. Containing History of the Counties, Their Townships, Towns, Villages, Schools, Churches, Industries, Etc.; Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men; Biographies; History of Pennsylvania; Statistical and Miscellaneous Matter, Etc., Etc. Illustrated. Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co., 1886. http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/beers/beers.htm ______________________________________________________________________ PART II. HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA. CHAPTER XLI. BOROUGH OF NEWVILLE. 447 BOROUGH OF NEWVILLE. PETER AUGUSTUS AHL and DANIEL VAUGHN AHL. The paternal ancestors of these gentlemen were originally from Berlin, Prussia. The grandfather, Dr. John Peter Ahl, came to America about the opening of the Revolution and settled in Bucks County, Penn. He entered Washington's army as surgeon, and remained as such until the close of the war. After the restoration of peace, he settled in Rockingham County, Va., where he practiced medicine for a number of years. Abandoning medicine, however, he was ordained a minister of the Lutheran Church, his field of labor being Baltimore, where he remained in pastoral work until the time of his death, at an advanced age. He had four sons and three daughters. John, one of the sons, adopted medicine as a profession, and graduated from the schools of Baltimore; began his practice in Rockingham County, Va., where his father had practiced before him. There he married Miss Nancy Ellen Vaughn, and shortly after removed to Strasburg, Franklin County, this State. He remained here about ten years, and then removed to Shippensburg, and thence to Newville, Penn., following his profession in each of these places. He died at Newville in 1844, and his remains rest in the old church-yard of the Presbyterians at that place. He left five sons and three daughters: Samuel Snyder, Carey Watkins, John Alexander, Peter Augustus, Daniel Vaughn, Catharine Washington (married Rev. Jacob Newman, a minister of the Lutheran Church), Martha Jefferson and Mary Etta, all of whom were reared and educated in Newville. Samuel followed the occupation of hatter and carried on the manufacture of hats largely and profitably in his native place until his death. Carey engaged in school-teaching, subsequently following the mercantile business, besides dealing in real estate, and finally became a well known and successful iron master. John adopted medicine as his profession, practicing successfully in Centreville, Churchtown and Newville. 448 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: He was also interested in the manufacture of flour and iron. Engaging in politics, he represented the interests of the Democratic party of the Congressional district composed of the counties of York, Cumberland and Perry, during the administration of President James Buchanan. Peter Augustus, one of the subjects of this sketch, was born in Strasburg, Franklin County, this State. He secured a good education, and chose the occupation of druggist. At an early age he entered upon his studies under the direction of Samuel Elliott, a practicing druggist of Carlisle, remaining with him about two years. He then abandoned the profession and engaged in mercantile pursuits. Daniel Vaughn, the other subject of our sketch, and the youngest of the family, was born in Strasburg. He early evinced a natural business talent and a speculative turn of mind, and at the age of fifteen he was employed as clerk in the store of his brothers, Carey and Peter, at Churchtown, remaining several years as salesman in their stores in Churchtown, Shepherdstown and Shiremanstown, in their native county. In this business he continued until the death of his brother, Samuel, who requested that his brother Peter and himself return to Newville and reside with their mother and sisters, Martha and Mary. They complied with his request, made their home with them, and cared for them during their lives. From this time the history of the two brothers is identical. Together they remained, being unmarried, and together they engaged in a great many large, varied and successful enterprises, which gained for them a celebrity throughout the State. Originally without capital and entirely self-made, they were characterized by a boldness in their financial undertakings and a public spiritedness in their enterprises which won for them a wide reputation for daring, energetic and successful speculators, railroad and iron men. Daniel, the younger of the two, early displayed an inclination for stock-dealing and speculating in venturesome enterprises. Their first large and successful dealings in stock was in connection with Charles Beltzhoover, of Boiling Springs, Penn., with whom they carried on an extensive business as dealers and shippers of horses and mules. They continued the business themselves, after the retirement of Mr. Beltzhoover, their retail sales of mules alone amounting to as many as 600 head annually. Their stock was principally purchased in the States of Kentucky, Missouri, Indiana and Illinois. In 1856, at the outbreak of the Mormon war, they secured a contract from the Government for the delivery, at Fort Leavenworth, Kans., of 1,500 head of broken mules, for the transportation of the troops from that place to Salt Lake City. These mules were nearly all purchased in the State of Pennsylvania, and delivered at the required point, a distance of nearly 2,000 miles, in sixty days. This was their first Government contract. They also, during the same year, furnished 200 head of mules at Pike's Peak, for the Pike's Peak Overland State Company. They continued in the mule trade until the breaking out of the civil war, amassing a considerable fortune, having, in the meantime, entered into the iron trade, by the purchase of the "Carlisle Iron Works," and acquiring, besides, a large amount of real estate, consisting of mills, farms and mineral lands. The Carlisle Iron Works property comprised some 10,000 acres of valuable timber and miner lands. The furnace had fallen into disuse before their purchase of it from Peter F. Ege, its former owner. They rebuilt the works, in connection with their brother, Carey, who held an interest in the property, and the manufacture of iron was carried on by them largely and profitably for many years. They also purchased the abandoned "Big Pond Furnace" property in Cumberland County, rebuilt it and established the manufacture of charcoal iron at that place, and continued its manufacture until the sale of the property, with their developed ore lands adjoining, to the Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron Company. Daniel also held, at this time, an interest, in connection with Hon. Thaddeus Stevens, in the Caledonia Iron Works, Franklin County, and rebuilt it, after its destruction by Gen. Lee's army, during the memorable invasion of 1863. The Mount Pleasant Iron Works, located at Richmond, Penn., now known as the Richmond Furnaces, and the Beaver forges and furnaces, located at Fort Loudon, in the same county, were purchased and rebuilt by them. After developing large quantities of iron ore on these properties in connection with these works, they agitated and, with other capitalists, carried to completion the construction of the Southern Pennsylvania Railroad, having its terminus at Mount Pleasant, near Cowan's Gap, and connecting with the Cumberland Valley Railroad at Chambersburg. This short line was a link of the great route projected by them through the southern portion of the State, from Harrisburg westwardly, connecting with the Connellsville Road, and its western terminus being Pittsburgh. It was originally known as the Miramar Railroad & Iron Company, with Daniel as its president. The undertaking was abandoned, on account of the antagonism of its rival, the powerful Pennsylvania. The abandoned line had been well chosen, as it was practically the same route adopted and located by the present South Pennsylvania or Vanderbilt Trunk Line. At these places they were large manufacturers of iron for a number of years, but they finally disposed of the works, with a large amount of ore lands, to the Southern Pennsylvania Railroad & Iron Company, Daniel being one of its officers. They also acquired and rebuilt the old Gov. Porter Furnace, in the city of Harrisburg, now owned by the car manufacturing company of that city. The Antietam Furnaces, in Maryland, formerly known as the "Brinn" Iron Works, were purchased and rebuilt by them during the war, and were profitably operated for a number of years. They also acquired 449 BOROUGH OF NEWVILLE. large holdings of valuable ore lands adjoining these works in the States of Maryland and Virginia, which they operated in connection with the mineral lands purchased of the United States Government, at Harper's Ferry, the whole comprising about 2,500 acres. The "Mammoth" Ore Banks, at Cleversburg, and many other rich and valuable lands were owned and controlled by them during their active operations in the iron trade in that locality, the development of which led to the organization of the Caledonia Iron Land & Railroad Company, and subsequently merged into the Harrisburg & Potomac. Daniel was its principal projector and its president, while to Peter belongs the honor of its construction, the road being practically owned and controlled by them. Upon the completion of the railroad, their various ore lands in its vicinity became very valuable, and large quantities were disposed of to the Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron Company, and to the Crane Iron Company, of Catasauqua, Penn. The road was eventually absorbed by the Philadelphia & Reading, and is now owned and operated by that company, with Daniel as one of its directors. In connection with railroads they have also the honor of being the projectors of the York Springs Railroad, and of exerting a considerable influence in the location and construction of the Western Maryland extension into the Cumberland Valley, which adds so materially to the manufacturing interests of Waynesboro and the prosperity of the other towns and the valley through which it passes. During the war they furnished large supplies of various kinds to the Government, and, in connection with William Calder, of Harrisburg, large numbers of horses and mules, at one time furnishing a number of horses to Gen. Averill's command, while engaged in active operations on the field at Culpeper C. H., Va. This achievement gained for Daniel the title of colonel, by which he was ever after familiarly known. During the darkest days of the Rebellion, when the integrity and financial condition of the Government was in doubt, and when other prominent and leading contractors refused, they undertook and furnished the army 1,000 horses and 1,000 mules in less than thirty days time. Being of a speculative nature, possessing unusual sagacity, shrewdness and foresightedness in their enterprising projects, they secured and controlled large quantities of real estate in the counties of Cumberland, Franklin, Adams, York, Huntingdon, Clinton, Fulton and Perry, and the adjoining States of Maryland and Virginia, also valuable lands in Minnesota. They were extensively engaged in the manufacture of straw board paper, and possessed large milling interests in various parts of the country. The "Tyboyne Tannery," in Perry County, is owned and was operated by them a number of years quite profitably. The famous Doubling Gap, White Sulphur and Chalybeate Springs in Cumberland County, owned by them, is a popular summer resort, largely patronized on account of the natural beauty of the surroundings and its healthy and delightful location. They also have obtained control of the Cumberland Valley Fruit Farm adjoining, which has been beautified, the buildings repaired and is a valuable acquisition and desirable annex to these springs. Newville, the place of their early home, their residence now and during their remarkable business career, has not escaped their enterprising spirit. The old hotel property at the railroad station, with the land adjoining, was purchased by Peter. He rebuilt, remodeled and enlarged it, and made it as commodious as any in the valley. The lands between the station and the town were laid out in lots; and a beautiful street, with shade trees planted along its sides, and adorned by large and spacious mansions and the neat and attractive residences of the town business men and a stately church edifice. This most beautiful town now takes the place of what was before broken hills and pasture lands. Warehouses and dwellings were erected by them around the railroad station, and their numerous farms surrounding the town were all handsomely improved by the remodeling and construction of elegant residences and large and commodious barns. Their enterprising spirit yet manifests itself, for, having attained to that age that they should cease their labors and rest upon the fruits of their achievements, yet their active minds will allow of no rest, and even now they are engaged in projecting a railroad from Perry County, via Doubling Gap Springs, to connect with the Cumberland Valley, Western Maryland and the South Pennsylvania Railroads. Notwithstanding the occupation of their minds in so many worldly enterprises, gigantic in their nature and wonderful in their results, and the continued strain upon them in these undertakings, a reflection on their mortality has not escaped them nor been forgotten. A large beautiful and costly monument, of elaborate design, surmounted by a figure of Faith, pointing heavenward, has been erected by them in the old Presbyterian church-yard, underneath which lie the remains of their beloved parents, a loving brother and two affectionate sisters, and where, in due course of time, they also hope to repose in peace beneath it, a fitting monument to their genius and ability and a commemorative history of the lives of these two enterprising and remarkable men.