HISTORY: Warner Beers, 1886, Part 2, Chapter 34, 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 XXXIV. SOUTHAMPTON TOWNSHIP.* SOUTHAMPTON is the extreme southwestern township of the county, and is bounded on the north by Hopewell, on the east by Newton, and on the south and west by the lines of Adams and Franklin Counties. It was formed, originally, one year before the formation of Franklin County, from portions of Lurgan and Hopewell Township, in October, 1783. At this session of the court a petition is presented praying the court to erect into one separate township such parts of the said townships of Hopewell and Lurgan as are included in the description given, and that it "be called henceforth by the name of Southampton," which petition was confirmed by the court. In this petition complaint is made of the great length of the said townships - namely, Hopewell and Lurgan - "which at present extend from the North to the South Mountains at a distance of about fifteen miles." The creation of Franklin County, in September, 1784, disturbed the boundary of this township, so that another petition of a number of the inhabitants of Southampton Township is presented to the court in January, 1791, setting forth that the said township of Southampton was some years laid off from Hopewell and Lurgan Townships into a separate township by the name of Southampton; that, soon after that, the "said township of Southampton was cut in two by a line dividing Franklin from Cumberland County," etc., and states that at a meeting of the inhabitants of Hopewell and Southampton Townships it was agreed that "the future boundary between Hopewell and Southampton Townships begin at Capt. William Strains' mill-dam; thence along the southeast side of the laid out road leading from said Strains' mill to James Irvin's mill until it intersects the line between Newton and Hopewell," etc., and prays the court to grant relief by confirming the said boundary; which was done, so that "that part of the said township of Hopewell lying southeast of the road leading from Strains' to Irwin's mill shall be henceforth called Southampton." CHARACTER OF SOIL, ETC. The character of the soil in Southampton Township is, in the north, undulating limestone land, more or less rocky, but productive, and in which, at its settlement, was what was known as "barrens," a sort of prairie land where the Indians had burned the forests, which grew up afterward into brush; this limestone land containing oak, hickory, and several varieties of locust and walnut, while on the gravel land south there were large forests of yellow pine *For borough of Shippensburg, see page 257. 344 HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. extending from the base of the mountains three miles into the valley. This description is true of the whole south side of the upper portion of the valley until it reaches almost the center of the county. This land is well watered by numerous streams. Some superior ore banks have been discovered in this township, and therefore it was that, long ago, furnaces were established. The first of these, built by John Moore, of Carlisle, in 1824, on the stream near the foot of the South Mountain, was one known as Augusta. Another, on the same stream, in the forest below, was known as Mary Ann. A third, still later, about four miles east of the latter, was called Big Pond. They have all long since ceased to be in operation. Other mills, and for other purposes, have since been built in the neighborhood of Middle Spring. Deposits of superior hematite iron ore are to be found at different places in the township, while fine farms abound on the limestone land. One matter in connection with the township during the Revolution is of interest. Two powder-mills were erected, one near the foot of South Mountain, and the other about a mile northwest of Shippensburg. The former was but a short distance on the run above where the Mary Ann Furnace was subsequently built, and the other just below where the Zearfoss flouring-mill now stands. Both mills were blown up, at different times, and in both cases resulted in the death of the proprietors. EARLIEST SETTLERS. The southwestern portion of this township was settled at a very early period. Large tracts of land, lying between the southeastern boundary of the first purchase made by Edward Shippen and the base of the South Mountains, were owned by John Reynolds, Benjamin Blithe, Col. James Dunlap, John Cesna and others. John Reynolds' tract joined that of Mr. Shippens on its southeastern side, while south of the latter lay that of Mr. Blythe. Just southeast of the Blythe tract lies the one which was purchased by Col. Dunlap in 1767. East of this tract is the Cesna farm, upon which Dennis O'Neiden and John Kirkpatrick were killed by the Indians July 18, 1757. This farm was one of the first occupied in the township, and remained in the possession of the descendants of Mr. Cesna until about the year 1827. On the north and northwest of the second purchase of Mr. Shippen, were the Brumfields, Duncans, Wherrys, McCunes, Caldwells, Culbertsons, Morrows, Finleys, Montgomerys and others. These were among the earliest settlers in the valley, and most of them were men of intelligence and enterprise, constituting such a group of these handy Scotch-Irish as will bear comparison with any which can be collected at the present day.* VILLAGES. There are three villages in the township, namely, Leesburg, Cleversburg and Middle Spring. Leesburg is situated on the Harrisburg & Potomac Railroad, on the Walnut Bottom road, four miles east of Shippensburg, and was originally settled by Scotch-Irish families, such as the Maxwells, Highlands, Chestnuts and others, who lived upon the lands upon which it is built, or just adjacent. It contains at present a postoffice, a church, three stores, graded schools, and a population of about 300 inhabitants. The town was called from George Lee, who kept a tavern in a log house which stood on the south side of the Walnut *The writer has to say that some of the above facts were obtained from the late Hon. John McCurdy who seems to have made a careful study of the 345 HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. Bottom road. This house, a farm house of Mr. Adam Reese, and a house which stood on the north side of the road below that of Mr. Reese, were the only houses then standing within the present limits of Leesburg. The land to the south and west of Lee's house, we are informed, was then covered with heavy timber, consisting of yellow pine, white and black oak, and hickory, nor was there any cleared land on either side of the Walnut Bottom road from that point until within a mile of Shippensburg excepting two farms, the Beltz and Rebrick. Cleversburg is situated just south of the center of the township, about one mile from the South Mountains, on land which originally belonged to George Croft, but which was purchased afterward by George Clever. The town was begun about 1860. It was called after George Clever, and was laid out upon the lands of George Clever and Wm. Sibbet and others. Up to this time (1860) there were but two houses, and a grist or flour-mill which is still standing. Clever owned the Gochenaur, or, originally, Croft, mill. The town contains a postoffice, a furnace, two churches, schools, a grist-mill, and a population of about 350. A branch railroad runs to the ore banks and furnaces from Cleversburg. Middle Spring is located about two miles north of Shippensburg. It takes its name from the spring and the old church which stands there. There is here a store, postoffice, blacksmith's shop and a number of dwellings. MIDDLE SPRING CHURCH AND GRAVE-YARD. For some reason all the old Presbyterian churches of the Cumberland Valley were erected near a spring or stream of water, and from their location they derived their names. Of these Middle Spring is one. Of the exact date of the origin of this congregation no record has been preserved; neither can it be ascertained from any other source. A log church, thirty-five feet square, was erected here about 1738, not far from where the present Middle Spring Church now stands. In 1765 a new structure was erected, and enlarged from time to time, which was succeeded in 1781 by the stone structure, which gave place, in 1847, to the new brick church, which has since been remodeled and improved. Instead of, ourselves, attempting to describe these churches, we prefer to use almost verbatim, the words of one who is more familiar with them. "Those," says Dr. Nevin, "who are familiar with this locality, remember well the green slope to the right on which the building stands; the grave-yard in the rear; the beautiful wood stretching back, with its refreshing shadows; the old mill-dam to the left; the fountain of fresh water bubbling up close by; the murmuring stream, which rolls on under thick hanging foliage; and the "Lower Grave-yard" a little to the north, along which the stream flows in its course, chanting its sweet requiem for the dead." It was in this grave-yard that the first church in this region was built. This was about 1738. It does not now stand. It was demolished, and another log one built upon the spot. This was considerably larger, being about forty-eight feet long and forty-eight wide. In a little while this was extended, by removing three sides of the building then in use, and embracing a little more space on either side, which was covered with a roof, something in the form of a shed. Up the sides of these additions to the main edifice, and over the roofs, were erected wooden steps, by which access was gained to the gallery. This arrangement was made for want of room in the interior of the building for the construction of a stairway. About the year 1781, the old stone church was erected, whose site, as is well known, was just beside that of the present building. This was still larger than its predecessor, fifty-eight by sixty-eight feet, and at about this same 346 HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. time the grave-yard immediately in its rear was located. This was done, not only because the old one was already filled, but also because its soil was of a gravelly description, and its lower section, by reason of its nearness to the stream, was subject to frequent inundation. The present brick church at Middle Spring was built, but seemingly, at least, not without poetic protest, in 1747-48, as in the volume from which we have quoted, among others, there appears this verse: "That old stone church! Hid in these oaks apart, I hoped the newer world would ne'er invade, But only time, with its slow, hallowing art, Would touch it, year by year, with softer shade, And crack its walls no more, but, interlaid. Mend them with moss. Its ancient somber cast Dearer to me is than all art displayed In modern churches, which, by their contract, Make this to stand forlorn, held in the solemn past."* Of the list of persons, to show the warlike mettle of these men, members or adherents of this church, who took part in the Revolution, we may mention Cols. Benjamin Blythe, Isaac Miller, Robt. Peebles, William Scott, Abraham Smith; Maj. James Herron; Capts. William Rippey, Matthew Henderson, Matthew Scott, David McKnight, John McKee, William Strain, Joseph Brady, Robert Quigley, Charles Leeper (killed at Crooked Billet, May, 1778), Charles Maclay, Samuel Blithe, Samuel Walker, James Scott, Samuel McCune, Samuel Kearsley and Lieut. Samuel Montgomery (lost a leg at Crooked Billet); John Heap, Esq., Samuel Cox, Esq., Francis Campble, John Reynolds, Esq., Thomas McClellan, Joseph McKenney, James McKee, Robert Donavin, William Turner, Thomas McCombs, William Sterritt, John Woods, Esq., William Anderson, John Maclay, James Dunlap, Esq., James Lowry, Esq., John Maclay (mountain), William Barr, Archibald Cambridge, John Herron, David Herron, David Duncan, John McKnight, James McCune, David Mahan, John Thompson, Jacob Porter, Isaac Jenkins (one of five brothers who died in camp of contagious disease, all of whom are buried in the Lower Grave-yard), Samuel Dixon, John Grier. A number of the members of this church were present in the meeting held in the Presbyterian Church, in Carlisle, June 12, 1774, to protest against the closing of the port of Boston. MIDDLE SPRING CHURCH LANDS. The history of the lands which belonged to the Middle Spring Church is thus given by Rev. S. Wylie, its present pastor: "On the 27th of May, 1767, there was surveyed and sold to Francis Campble, Robert Chambers, William Duncan and John Maclay, the tract of land in Hopewell Township, Cumberland County, called 'Mount Hope,' very much in the form of a wedge, with the head extending along the Middle Spring, beyond the old grave-yard, and the sharp point reaching almost to Mean's Run in the direction of Shippensburg, containing 49 acres and 110 perches, for which they paid the State of Pennsylvania the sum of 9l and 16s. This land was patented by these men September 17, 1790, and in November, 1793, they deeded it to the trustees of the Middle Spring Church. On the 3d of December, 1813, there was sold of this land, at public auction, nine acres and nine perches, lying along and including the water-right of Middle Spring, to Samuel Cox, at $150 per acre. On the 10th of May, 1825, of the remainder twenty-four acres and fifty-three perches were sold to Mr. George Diehl for the sum of $486.62. There thus remains something above sixteen acres of these lands, which still belong to the church. *From poem by Prof. W. M. Nevin: "The Guardian," May, 1852. 347 HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. "The old grave-yard belonging to this church was used from its earliest history. The oldest records now legible, however, only date back to 1770. The oldest names appear to be the Wrights and Johnsons. The present stone wall was built before 1805. It had a shingle comb- roof and was painted red. The upper or new yard was inclosed in 1842." MISCELLANEOUS. Southampton Township is favored with two railroads, the Cumberland Valley and the Harrisburg & Potomac, the former running through the more northerly part of the township, and the latter through the center portion. The postoffices are Shippensburg, Middle Spring, Cleversburg and Lee's Cross Roads.