HISTORY: Warner Beers, 1886, Part 2, Chapter 32, 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 XXXII. PENN TOWNSHIP. 333 HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. PENN TOWNSHIP was formed from the western portion of Dickinson in 1860. Cook Township has since been formed from the southern part of Penn, reducing it to its present limits, and including nearly all of the mountain land which was formerly a portion of that township. It is bounded on the east by Dickinson Township, on the south by Cook Township, on the north by Wet Pennsborough Township, and on the west by Newton Township. Its physical features, as thus reduced, are the same as those of the upper portion of Dickinson: On the north side of the Yellow Breeches Creek heavy limestone land, very fertile, and which yields to the labor of the husbandman abundant harvests; on the south side a gravely or sand formation, but which, when well tilled, is also well adapted to agriculture. Many excellent farms, in a high state of cultivation, are to be found in almost every portion of the township. This land is also well watered by numerous springs or streams, all of which empty into the Yellow Breeches Creek, which flows in an easterly direction through the township. Most of these have their source in the South Mountains; while, at a point where the Walnut Bottom road crosses the Newton Township line, are what are known as the Three Springs, the water flowing from under the limestone rocks at a distance of a few rods apart. These springs are somewhat south of the Quarry Hill - a sandstone ridge which extends in an easterly direction through Southampton, Newton, and the northern portion of Penn Townships. Of late years they sometimes run dry in the summer months, but it may be interesting to state that before the time when so much timber had, sometimes needlessly, been destroyed, they were much larger and more copious streams. This fact is within the recollection of some who are still living. The principal stream, however, is the Yellow Breeches Creek, which rises in the mountains and, small comparatively until it reaches this point, twice crosses the Walnut Bottom road - the second crossing being at the dividing line between Penn and Newton Townships. Its original Indian name was "Callipascink" meaning rapid or "horseshoe bends."* We find it was known as the "Yellow Breeches," however, as early as 1740. How it derived this "uncouth appellation" is not now known. One explanation is that the words are a corruption of Yellow Beeches - a number of which once grew upon its banks. Another rather improbable account, but which has received some credit, is as follows: In speaking of the second crossing on the Walnut Bottom road, to which we have alluded, a resident of the township writes: "I was born and raised within 300 yards of that place, and from a boy have known the stream to be called Pine Run down to this second crossing, and from there down Yellow Breeches Creek. I have been told time and again, in my boyhood days, that the name was given to it because a family living at that place (known as "Three Springs"), on a washing day, *In "Trego's Geography, Geology, etc., of Pennsylvania," published 1843, he says (page 83): "The present uncouth appellation given to this beautiful stream renders it very desirable that its original Indian name should be restored. This seems, however, now to be lost, for after the most diligent research we have been unable to discover it." 334 HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. hung out a pair of leather yellow breeches, which were stolen by a roving band of Indians, after which, in speaking of certain places, this one was known as the place or creek where the Indians had stolen the yellow breeches, from which the creek itself, in time, derived its name - but above this point it is still known as 'Pine Run.'" We have thought it worthy to state this legend here, for, if it be true, then this stream derived its name from an incident which happened in Penn Township. Iron ore, in detached quantities, is found in various portions of the township, while at Huntsville is the site of the old Cumberland Furnace, built by Michael Ege, but which has long since been abandoned. Grist-mills and saw-mills are along the streams, but for local uses only, while many of the older ones have disappeared. The population of Penn is more dense than in Dickinson, but fewer of the descendants of the original settlers remain, and there is a larger infusion of the German element, which came into it at a later period. Michael Ege, at one time probably the most extensive land-owner and iron master in Pennsylvania, owned much of the land on the south side of the creek, which descended at his death to his daughter, Mrs. Wilson, and which extended also into Dickinson Township, in the sketch of which we have given an account of its division after protracted litigation. One of the Weakley families owned land in the neighborhood of the Dickinson Church, and up toward Centerville, some generations ago, and there wee other family names which are the same as those which are found in Dickinson Township. As the pioneer settlers seemed always to have preferred the lands which lay adjacent to the springs or along the streams, there can be little doubt that such portions of this township as lay along the Yellow Breeches Creek or the Three Springs, were settled at a very early period. Among the older families are the McCulloughs, and, as a matter of interest, we may mention that Alexander McCullough, who married Elizabeth McKinstry and was father of James, went to California in 1855, and joined the famous Walker's expedition, where he lost his life. VILLAGES. Small villages are numerous in Penn Township. Along the Walnut Bottom and the Pine roads are clusters of houses which have as yet no name, but along the former are Cumminstown, called after Rev. Charles Cummins, the second pastor of Dickinson Church; Centerville, so named, it is said, because it is midway between Carlisle and Shippensburg; and Hockersville, called after John Hocker, who owned a farm and tavern- stand some years ago at this place. On or near the Pine road are Huntsville, formerly Spring Mills, a station on the Harrisburg & Potomac Railroad; Brushtown, from the brush that surrounded it; and Milltown, a mile east, so called because of the number of mills (a fulling-mill, grist-mill, saw-mill, plaster-mill, clover-seed-mill and a whisky distillery), which were once in that immediate vicinity. Centerville is described in 1845, by Rupp, as "a small village on the Walnut Bottom road in a well improved, fertile region of the country; it contains a store and tavern." It has now a church, schoolhouse, postoffice, shops, and about 200 inhabitants. CHURCHES. There are six churches within the limits of Penn Township. Of these the oldest is what is known as the Dickinson Church, belonging to the Presbyterian congregation. As early as 1810 an application was made, subscribed by James Moore and Joseph Galbraith, for a pastor to supply what was called the 335 HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. "Presbyterian congregation of Walnut Bottom," but it was not until 1823 that a congregation was organized in Dickinson Township, and not until 1826 that a call was given to Rev. McKnight Williamson, their first pastor, who continued to serve until October, 1834. He was succeeded, in the following year, by Rev. Charles Cummins, who served for a period of ten years, and after whom, as we have seen, the small village derives its name. The place is still better known, however, as the Dickinson Church. At the close of Mr. Williamson's pastorate, the session consisted of Samuel Woods, John Ross, William Woods, Jr., George Davidson and David W. McCullough; at the close of Mr. Cummins', the elders were William Woods, Jr., Robert Donaldson, William G. Davidson and Lewis Williams. At first the congregation worshiped alternately in the stone church belonging to the Covenanters and in the log church of the German Reformed and Lutheran congregations, both of which were in Dickinson Township. Since the formation of Penn, the Dickinson Church is included in that township, although its name was derived from the one in which it was erected in 1829. It stands on a slight eminence, at a point where the road leading from Mount Rock to Spring Mills crosses the Walnut Bottom road, eight miles west of Carlisle. The lot of ground upon which it is erected was given for that purpose by William L. Weakley. The situation is a beautiful one, and the building itself, with its neat interior, does credit to the taste and liberality of the congregation. The Lutheran Church at Centerville is a handsome brick building, erected in 1852; while south of the Dickinson Church and near the creek is the church of the German Baptists - known as Dunkers - erected in 1863. The other churches of the township are smaller and have been more recently erected than those which we have mentioned. SCHOOLS. A private school or academy was begun at Centerville in 1856, by Robert Lowry Sibbet, a graduate of Pennsylvania College, in which were taught Greek, Latin, the natural sciences and higher mathematics. The school was for a time quite successful. Mr. Sibbet was succeeded by Rev. George P. Hays. After a few years, however, it ceased to exist. Of the students of this school two are ministers, one a missionary in Japan, three are lawyers living in Carlisle, one a physician, and several have been teachers. Of its teachers, Dr. Sibbet is now practicing medicine in Carlisle, and his successor was afterward president of Washington and Jefferson College. At present there are ten public schools in the township, and although the school term is six months, in many of the districts they are kept open three months longer by subscription. The Harrisburg & Potomac Railroad traverses through the center of the township. The postoffices are Dickinson and Huntsdale.