HISTORY: Warner Beers, 1886, Part 2, Chapter 28, Cumberland County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter Copyright 2009. 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 XXVIII. MIFFLIN TOWNSHIP. MIFFLIN TOWNSHIP was formed from the eastern portion of Hopewell in 1797, and was called after Thomas Mifflin, then Governor of Pennsylvania. It is bounded on the north by the North Mountains and on the south by the Conodoguinet Creek, while Frankford Township lies upon the east and Hopewell on the west. [Archivist note: Mifflin Township was formed in 1797, but not from Hopewell Township. Formed from Newton Township that year. Newton was formed from Hopewell in 1767.] The soil is a mixture of clay, gravel and slate, such as lies along the base of the North Mountains, which has become fertile by cultivation. Four streams run from the mountains through the township, and empty into the Conodoguinet Creek. From what we have said of Hopewell, in which Mifflin was included, it will be seen that this portion of the county was settled at a very early period. Before the time of the white settlers there was an Indian trail, of a local character, through Doubling Gap, and a more important one through the Three Square Hollow, in the northwestern corner of the township, which was a branch of the great trail leading from the Ohio to the Susquehanna. This trail came down through the Three Square Hollow, crossed the Conodoguinet Creek near the mouth of Brandy Run, passed along the Green Spring to the head of the Big Spring, and thence southeastwardly toward Monaghan (Dillsburg) and York. Along this trail, between the two branches in the form of Brandy Run, it is said that evidence of an old Indian burial ground existed many years ago, and there are traditions that an Indian village existed in the same neighborhood, and that the peninsula in the long bend of the creek, now owned by Matthew Thompson, was used for raising the Indian corn which, in connection with game, constituted their food. In support of these traditions, 308 HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. says Rev. James B. Scouller, to whom we are indebted for the above, are the two facts that the first settlements made in Mifflin were along this trail, and all the massacres which took place during the old French war were in its vicinity. The time of the first settlement in Mifflin is earlier than has been supposed.* We have in our possession a letter from Mr. W. C. Koons, a descendant, on the maternal side, of the Carnahans, who were among the earliest settlers in the township, which we will lay before the reader: "The first settlers in Newton and Mifflin townships, then included in Hopewell, were Robert Mickey, William Thompson and Andrew McElwain. They were brothers-in-law, and came at the same time to make their homes in this part of Cumberland Valley. Robert Mickey located near the source of the west branch of Green Spring, in Newton Township; William Thompson on the great bend in the Conodoguinet Creek, and Andrew McElwain (or McIlvaine) on the "Fountain of Health" farm, both in Mifflin Township. There is uncertainty as to the particular year of their settlement; but by receipts given to Robert Shannon by John Penn, dated respectively 1732, 1733, 1734, and a deed, on full payment, dated 1735, it is certain that their coming was not later than 1729, as they had preceded Shannon by three years. Still, as the papers indicate that it was not unusual for the settlers to occupy their lands for years before warrants or patents were issued, it is quite possible that the settlement may have been made several years previous to 1729. Soon after they were joined by Stevenson, Shannon, the Carnahans, Nicholsons, Williamsons and others. These were all Presbyterians, and during hostilities with the Indians, they were in the habit of carrying their fire-arms with them to church for protection in case of assault. The Williamson Massacre. - "The Williamson massacre, as to date and details, is a matter of tradition, as far as known. We find it put down as having occurred in 1753 or 1754. The family lived on the farm adjoining the Andrew McElwain tract on the east side. The evening preceding the massacre several men from the Carnahan Fort were stopping at Andrew McElwain's, distant about three miles from the fort. About dusk Mrs. McElwain went out to look after some cattle. Nearing the stock-yard she heard the sound of footsteps, as of men getting over the fence at the opposite side. Believing them to be Indians she returned to the house and informed the inmates of what had occurred. The men from the fort remained keeping watch during the night. About daylight the sound of guns was heard from beyond the hill in the direction of the Williamsons, nearly a mile distant. Immediately all started for the fort, and after proceeding a little way it was discovered that a babe had been left in the cradle. Two of the men returned, brought the child away,** and all reached the fort in safety. Shortly after their arrival a number of men was sent out from the fort to look after the Indians. Reaching the Williamson farm they found that the whole family - some eight or nine persons, Mrs. Williamson excepted - had been murdered. I may add, that the only material difference between this and other versions of this bloody affair which have come to my notice, is, that Mrs. Williamson, carrying a child with her, escaped. "Another incident connected with the strife between the hostile Indians and the early settlers I may mention, although not so fully informed as to its details. The Nicholsons lived near the Whisky Run, on what is probably best known as the farm once owned by Rev. John Snoke. The event is put at *Rev. James B. Scouller, well versed in the local history of the township, places the date of the earliest settlers in Mifflin, in his sketch in Dr. Wing's History, at 1734-36, "because at the time the wave of population flowed up the valley on the north side of the Conodoguinet." **"This rescued babe," says Rev. James B. Scouller, "was the grandmother of James M. Harlan, of Mifflin." 309 HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. about 1755. During the night the Nicholsons were disturbed by the barking of their dog. The married brother opened the door to see what was the matter. Instantly he was shot by the Indians, fell dead at the door, was drawn inside and the door closed. The Indians made several attempts to get into the house, but in each case were successfully resisted. The unmarried brother, assisted by the dead man's wife, kept up a constant fire. They had three guns; the women, while the fight went on, made bullets and loaded the guns. The Indians retired, leaving no dead, but blood marks seen in several places on the ground the next morning proved that they had suffered severely. "The brother and widowed mother each mounted a horse, the former carrying the body of the slain man before him, and the latter a child before her, and another behind, rode to Shippensburg, and buried him there." Says the writer of the above: "I feel as if I ought to say that I have relied very much upon my own recollection of what I heard my mother, who was born in Mifflin township in 1795, and her brother William, who was born ten years before, say in reference to the fort, the defense made by the Nicholsons and the Williamson massacre. I am indebted to Mr. Andrew McElwain, of Fannettsburg, Penn., for the names of the first three settlers. "The places they had located I had known from my boyhood. My recollection of the Williamson affair is confirmed by Mr. McElwain's statements, and it is upon his say entirely that the number of the murdered is put at 'eight or nine.' I have a very clear recollection of mother's statement respecting the killing of Mr. Nicholson, the defense made by the brother, and heroism of the woman who assisted him in loading the guns and molding bullets while the fight went on. But as to the statement which I have added upon information obtained from the sources, in respect to carrying the dead body on horseback to Shippensburg for burial, my memory supplies nothing. I do not make this qualification, however, with a view to cast discredit upon the alleged fact, but simply to indicate that it is well nigh impossible that my mother ever told it to me. With this explanation before you [the township historian] it will be for you to judge of the authenticity and value of these reminiscences." Besides the early settlers whom we have mentioned, the Laughlins Browns, McLaughlins, Agers, Bradys, were all probably settled in what is now Mifflin Township; before 1751 the names of all are found in the tax-lists of Hopewell (which then included Mifflin) of that year. To these we may add probably the Porterfields and Lightcaps. Seemingly at a later time came the McElhennys, Bells, Scoullers, Sterritts, Morrows, Lusks and others. Most of these families have departed. The Nicholsons were extensive slaveholders, and when Pennsylvania abolished slavery they removed to Kentucky. One of the descendants of the Shannon family has been Governor of Ohio. Of the Carnahans a descendant says: "I have no means of fixing the precise date of the Carnahan settlement, nor can I say that the two brothers, James and William, came the same year. Both, however, settled previous to 1740, and the probability is, that it was but a few years, at most, after the settlement of the first comers (1729). They were Scotchmen. James bought land in Newton Township, William in Mifflin. James and William Thompson joined lands on opposite sides of the creek, and William Carnahan located a little lower down the stream, the upper part of his tract, however, adjoining James', with a tract belonging to one of the Williamsons intervening between his and William Thompson's on the Mifflin side. James had two sons, Adam and James. The son, James, was a captain in the Revolutionary war. Joseph Koons has in his possession the sword which he carried during the war. Adam Carnahan died 310 HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. in 1800. His brother, James, and Robert Carnahan (son of William) were his executors, and at this death the name of the Carnahans disappears from Newton Township.* Robert only remained in Mifflin. He was married to Miss Judith McDowell, who was born in Philadelphia a few days after her parents landed (1763), and died May 21, 1835. They had four children - two sons, William and Robert, and two daughters, Margaret and Jane. William, the elder son, immigrated to Indiana in 1835 (died 1869, aged eighty-four). Robert went to Cincinnati (died _____). Margaret married Robert McElhenny. They moved to Columbus, Ohio, but, he dying soon after, she returned to the old home in Mifflin. Jane married Isaac Koons. Block-Houses. - There was a number of smaller forts or block-houses in Mifflin Township. One, probably the oldest, built abut the beginning of the French and Indian war, is said to have been located on the creek near the mouth of Brandy Run, on the Carnahan farm. (See sketch of Newton Township.) Others, some of them built at a later date, seem to have been located as follows: One on the Lusk farm, near Sulphur Spring; one at McComb's, near Doubling Gap; one on the old Knettle farm, near Center Schoolhouse, remains of which existed in 1809; and another on the old Zeigler farm, the chimney of which, it is said, is still standing, now the chimney of the house of James M. Harlan. During the Revolution there lived, in the Brandy Run region, the celebrated Capt. Samuel Brady, the Indian fighter and commander of a company of rangers. He was the grandson of Hugh Brady, the elder, who settled in Hopewell Township, where we have given some account of Capt. Brady in connection with that family. There was also living in this section, it is said, one Joseph Ager (or Aiger, as we find the name in the early, 1751, tax list), more familiarly known as "Joe Aiger," who, returning one day to his home (about 1755), found his father and mother murdered by the Indians. Over their dead bodies, it is said, as of Brady, that he swore eternal enmity against all Indians, and that he would take a hundred of their scalps for each parent who had been murdered. Tradition states that he fulfilled his oath, and that he would wander through the wilderness as far west as the Allegheny River and the valley of the Ohio. To return again to more certain ground. It can not now be told who settled first along the Big Run. The deed for a tract at its mouth from the Penns to John Scouller was given in 1762. A Mr. Thompson was located higher up, between the Big and the Back Runs, most of which land was sold, in 1765 to 1770, to the Fentons, Mitchells, Mathers, and possibly some others. John McCullough was still further north, near the mountain, on the headwaters of a branch of the Big Spring, on what was since known as the McDannell farm, partly owned by G. Stewart. Adam Bratton and his three brothers-in-law, James, Robert and Nathaniel Gillespie, all of whom had slaves, came into the township in 1776. Bratton lived on the farm owned by his grandson Samuel, James Gillespie lived partly in Frankford Township, Robert on the Wagoner farm, and Nathaniel on the Brown or Snyder farm, where he established the first tannery in the township. In the records of the court for October, 1778, is the petition for a road from the dwelling house of Adam Bratton into the great road at William Laughlin's mill, leading to Carlisle. Viewers: James and George Brown, Robert McFarlane, James Laughlin, Samuel McElhenny and John Reed. Another petition in 1781, from Newton (Mifflin had not yet been formed), *Capt. James probably went to Westmoreland County. Of the Carnahans who went to Westmoreland at an early date comes the Rev. J. A. Carnahan, a pioneer preacher of Indians, now deceased, and doubtless it is to the Carnahans of that county to which the parentage of Dr. Carnahan, of Princeton, can be traced. 311 HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. is for a road beginning at Hogg Ridge, at the foot of the North Mountain, thence to Col. Chambers' mill; thence to William Laughlin's mill on the Big Spring. Viewers: Hugh Patton, James Scroggs, William Hodge, Robert Sharpe, Robert McComb and Samuel McCormick. Another in 1781, is for a road from Laughlin's mill to James Irwin's mill; thence to John Piper's mill; thence to cross the spring at William Hodges; from thence, by Mr. McCracken's tavern, past John Johnston's, to Squire Charles Leiper's saw-mill. Viewers: Col. James Chambers, John Scouller, John Agnew, Allen Leeper, William McFarlane, James Laughlin. Another, still earlier, in 1772, is the prayer for a road from the Three Square Hollow, above Robert McComb's, to Chambers' mill, by John Piper's mill, to James Smith's Gap, in the South Mountain. Viewers: James Jack, Robert McComb, John Piper, John Irwin, Robert Bell, and James Carnahan. Another, in 1782, is for a road from the gap of the Big Run, above Samuel McCormick's, to John Scouller's mill; thence to William Laughlin's mill; thence to Thornberg's Furnace in South Mountain. Viewers: David Sterritt, Adam Bratton, William Hodge and others. James McFarlan located about 1,000 acres just below Doubling Gap, and in this connection the following will be of interest: In the court records for April, 1791, is the prayer for a road "from Thomas Barnes' sulphur spring, in the gap formerly known as McFarlan's Gap," to Philip Slusser's mill; thence to Samuel McCormick's mill; thence to Carlisle. Viewers: John Moore, John Scouller, William Galbreath, and others. The above indicates to us, seemingly, the original name of Doubling Gap, or the name by which it was known prior to 1791. McFarlan's land was divided between his two sons, John and William, and his two sons-in-law, Robert Galbreath and Samuel Mitchell. William McFarlan sold his to Samuel McCormick, who built a grist and saw-mill upon it. All these early settlers before the Revolution, with the exception, possibly, of a few English, were Scotch or Irish. The Germans came into Mifflin at a later period, and probably not before 1782-83. From 1790 they came in rapidly; until, to-day, they have gradually supplanted many of the descendants of the original settlers. SULPHUR SPRINGS, ETC. Sulphur springs exist in various portions of the township. Of these the celebrated sulphur spring, in a beautiful grove in the midst of the mountains at Doubling Gap, is best known and most worthy of mention. The place has been a popular summer resort from the beginning of the present century, if not from a still earlier period. The hotel, also in a grove, with lofty mountains lifting their green tops to the blue sky on either side, is situated in a scene of special beauty. The hotel itself will accommodate more than 100 guests. In front of it, beyond the shadowy groves, which are separated by the road which winds through this bending gap, rises one knob of the mountains 1,400 feet, from whose lofty top, "Flat Rock," the whole beautiful valley, from the gleaming Susquehanna on the east to where the turning mountains seem like subsiding waves to the southwest, lies like a panorama at your feet. About one-third of the distance, as you climb the ascending path, is the recess, under a shelving rock, known as the "Lewis' Cave," so called because that celebrated highwayman and robber once used it for some time as a resort and hiding-place from justice. This was probably about 1816 or 1820. Unlike the ordinary highwayman, "Lewis the Robber," is said to have stolen from the rich and given to the poor. This fact, in connection with his faculty of making friends, his love of fun and adventure, has caused him to be remembered as a sort of Robin Hood. One instance of rather humorous generosity 312 HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. is told, in which he loaned a widow money to save her property from the sheriff, but "recovered" the same from the sheriff himself in the evening as he was proceeding homeward to Carlisle. Some of the neighbors and Nicholas Howard, of Newville, who kept the hotel during those summer days, knew of his retreat, but were fast friends of the generous outlaw. When the coast was clear Howard would hang out a flag from an upper window, which could be seen from the "Cave," and Lewis would come down, and, with some trusted neighbors, have "a jolly night at the hotel." When danger was on his track, he kept concealed in his secret hiding-place, and was supplied with food. In a diary kept by Samuel J. McCormick, who lived two miles south of Doubling Gap, is the following: "On Tuesday, the 20th of June, 1820, the sheriff of Franklin County arrived with a party in search of David Lewis (the robber), and early the next morning proceeded to the mountain southeast of the Sulphur Springs, where they discovered a cave or den, where they found blankets and other articles known to belong to Lewis. But, according to the best information, the inhabitants had decamped on the Thursday before." This was only about three weeks before Lewis' death. It was known that Lewis had a cave somewhere in the mountain to which he fled from time to time, but its locality was not discovered before June, 1820. A confrere, who is described as being coarse and cruel, sometimes encamped with Lewis at this cave, but found no friends in the Gap. He was killed at the same time that Lewis was wounded unto death. Whisky distilling was a prominent industry of Mifflin more than a century ago. Indeed so common was this habit of turning grain into this fluid form, that a distillery might be seen on almost every farm. From this, two streams, the Whisky and Brandy Runs, derived their names. The western stream is called after the Gap from which it flows, the triangular shape of which suggested, humorously, to some Irishman, its name, "The Three Square Hollow," a name by which it is still known. CHURCHES. Beside the early Presbyterians there were a few Covenanters in the township, the former attending service at Big Spring. When the German Reformed and Lutheran population came, they first erected a Union Church, in which the ministers of each would preach alternately. About 1790 ground was given by Jacob Zeigler, near Council Bluff Schoolhouse, for a church and grave-yard. Here a log church was erected, with a high goblet pulpit, on the projecting sides of which were painted the four evangelists. Long afterward, 1832, the Lutherans organized in Newville, erected a church, and soon absorbed the Mifflin membership, so that the old church was seldom used and was finally abandoned. Later it was altogether removed. Some Mennonite families in the upper part of Mifflin erected a log meeting-house many years ago, which has since been turned into a private dwelling. There are other churches in Mifflin, but more modern, and which need no special mention. MISCELLANEOUS. There are eight schools in the township, quite a number of fine farms, and an industrious agricultural community. No railroad touches Mifflin Township, and it has but one postoffice, Heberlig. 313 HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. Portrait of Geo. W. Paxton 314 HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. Blank Page