HISTORY: Warner Beers, 1886, Part 2, Chapter 29, 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 XXIX. MONROE TOWNSHIP. 315 HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. MONROE TOWNSHIP was formed in 1825, from the western portion of Allen, which then extended to the Susquehanna River. It lies in the southern tier of townships, and is bounded on the north by Silver Spring Township, on the east by Upper Allen Township, on the south by York County, and on the west by South Middleton Township. The northern chain of the South Mountains extends over the southeastern portion of Monroe, bounding its fertile fields with the long line of its blue horizon, and inclosing within its deep recesses a number of valuable beds of iron ore, such as are to be found also in other portions of the township. Beyond the "Callaposink" or Yellow Breeches Creek, which flows in an easterly direction, not far from the base of these mountains, are the slightly rolling hills of the rich limestone and loam land, where fine farms and farm houses everywhere abound, whose fields, cultivated as they are by the industrious farmer, offer an abundant harvest. The first settlers who came into what is now Monroe Township, when it was a portion of Allen, were evidently the Scotch-Irish, although there are few, if any, of the present inhabitants by whom their names are still remembered. They were here soon supplanted by the Germans, who came into this portion of the county (Allen Township) prior to 1775. Of these earlier Scotch-Irish, whom seem first to have taken up the lands along the streams, we know, however, that somewhere east, upon the Yellow Breeches Creek, there was a settlement known as Pippin's tract, where Charles Pippin settled as early as 1742, and that, following the creek westward, were John Campbell, the owner of a mill, Rodger Cooke, David Wilson, John Collins, James McPherson, Andrew Campbell, Andrew and John Miller, Robert Patrick, J. Crawford, William Fear, John Gronow, Charles McConnel, Alexander Frazier, Peter Title, Arthur Stewart, Thomas Brandon, Abraham Endless, and, last, John Craighead, who, as we know, settled upon the stream to the west, in the adjoining township. Of the Germans who came prior to 1775, all of whom we believe have descendants still living in the township, were John Brindel, Martin Brandt, Jacob Bricker, John and Jacob Cocklin, Samuel Niesley, Joseph Strack, Leonard Wolf, Gideon Kober (Coover), Jacob Miller and a number of others. George Beltzhoover, Sr., the grandfather of George Beltzhoover, came into the township from York County at a much later period (about seventy-five or eighty years ago). Joseph Bosler now owns the George Beltzhoover, Sr., tract. His son John lived on the south side of the creek, on land now owned by his daughter, Mrs. Leidich, and his son, John Beltzhoover. The mill in that vicinity, now owned by the Shaffner heirs, was built by Michael G. Beltzhoover, Jr., upon the site of one bought of the Hopples, and the mill now owned by Mrs. Leidich, on the creek just below Shaffner's, was for many years known as Bricker's Mill - after Samuel Bricker, who was owner of it nearly a century ago. The lower part is stone and the upper part frame, which has been added within the recollection of the living. Even's Mill, on the creek 316 HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. still below, was known as Brandt's Mill, and Givler's, still further east, as Clark's. Some families, eighty or one hundred years ago, were large landowners in the township. The farms now belonging to David Niesley, Herman Bosler, of Carlisle, Mrs. Sample, and David K. Paul, were all owned by the Brickers - Joseph, William and Moses. The farm at Lutztown, owned by Mr. Pressel, and the one owned by Samuel Cocklin were once, some three-quarters of a century ago, the property of Peter Bricker. The farms now owned by John Musselman, John Engle and Joseph Bosler were owned by George, Abraham, and Martin Brandt. Clusters of other family names can be found in the township, where the sons have often been born on the same homestead, have cultivated the same fields, and walked, almost literally, in the footsteps of their sires. CHURCHES AND CEMETERY. Of the Germans, many are Lutherans, but there are some German Mennonites, who have a house of worship west of Churchtown. There is also a Dunkard church and cemetery on the Lisburn road, about one mile north. SCHOOLS, INDUSTRIES, ETC. There are twelve schools in the township, most of them substantial brick buildings. Besides the predominant agricultural interest and the iron ore, the burning of lime is also an industry, and quite a number of kilns can be seen in different portions of the township. The Harrisburg & Potomac Railroad passes through the township from east to west, and the Dillsburg & Mechanicsburg Railroad from north to south, through the eastern part. The postoffices are Allen and Brandtsville. VILLAGES. Churchtown (Allen P. O.), the most important village in the township, is situated near its center. It derived its name, about the year 1830, from an old Lutheran and German Reformed Church, which was erected just east of the present town about 1790. About seventy years ago there was considerable woodland and only three houses in the immediate vicinity of Churchtown. The first town lots were sold by Peter Leivinger in 1830. He was owner of the land on the eastern side of Main Street, between Church and High Streets. The plat of the town contained eight lots east of and fronting on Main, five south and fronting on church, and one lot north fronting on High Street. The old house which has for many years been occupied as a hotel, was erected by Jacob Wise about 1804, and was the first house built in Churchtown. The town has at present four churches: Mennonite, Lutheran, Bethel and United Brethren. It has two public schools. Some of the earlier residents were Peter Leivinger, Daniel and Rudolph Krysher, Adam Stemberger, David Diller, Jacob Ritner (son of ex-Gov. Ritner, of Pennsylvania), George Lutz, John A. Ahl, Samuel and John Plank. It was at this place that Jacob Plank, the grandfather of A. W. Plank, now a justice of the peace, came at an early date from Lancaster County, and invented what was probably the first plow patented in Pennsylvania. One of these patents, about 1836, is entitled "J. Plank's improvement in the Plough," and bears the plain and characteristic signature of Andrew Jackson. Allen Lodge, No. 299, K. of P., has here a membership of about 100. G. W. Eberly is R. & C. S. Leidich's Station, on the Harrisburg & Potomac Railroad, about two and 317 HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. a half miles east of Boiling Springs, was called after George W. Leidich, who owned land in the vicinity, and was established in 1874. The first grist-mill here was built by Mr. Wolf about ninety-seven years ago. The farm at this place, now owned by George Beltzhoover, was patented to Leonard Wolf the 19th of June, 1786, and was for a long time in the possession of his descendants. The farm on the south side of the creek, now owned by Jacob Hoffer, was part of this Leonard Wolf tract, owned afterward by his son Leonard Wolf, by whom it was sold to Michael Ege, from whom it was purchased by Samuel Hoffer, Sr. Brandt's Station, on the Harrisburg & Potomac Railroad, about three miles east of Boiling Springs, was named after Michael G. Brandt, who owned the land on which it is located, and was established in 1874. This land has been in the possession of the Brandt family since 1765. Martin Brandt, grandfather of Michael, was the first of the family who owned it. A saw-mill and clover-mill were built here about 1828. Worleytown is a small cluster of houses on the York road, not far from the Yellow Breeches Creek. It dates from about 1815, and was called after David Worley, who owned the land in the vicinity. Roxbury is a small cluster of houses upon the line which separates Monroe and Silver Spring Townships.