Huntingdon County PA Archives History .....Brady Pennsylvania Historical Sketch January 28, 1931
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Historical Sketches of Brady, PA
from the 
EARLY HISTORY Of HUNTINGDON COUNTY
Printed in The Daily News
Huntingdon, PA Wednesday, January 28, 1931

Historical Sketches of the Boroughs and Townships of 
Huntingdon County, compiled for The Daily News from 
The History of Huntingdon County published in 1883 
by J. Simpson Africa with special reference to 
Location, Formation, Pioneers, Civil Organisations, 
Religion, Education, population. Rest Etc,Etc,

BRADY TOWNSHIP
Brady is one of the border townships of the county, situated
north of the Juniata river. On the northeast, east and southeast
it is bounded by Mifflin county, being separated from it in the
latter course by Jack's Mountain. West and northwest is the 
township of Henderson, and on the north is Miller township. The
Juniata separates Brady from Shirley and Union townships on
the south and southwest. The township is mainly mountainous,
the foot-hills of Jack's Mountain extending far into the Interior.
Beyond these is Standing Stone Mountain and its attendant
ridges, trending in a general northeast to southwest direction.
The intermediate areas form small valleys, and embrace also a
portion of the noted Kishacoquillas Valley, which may be
said to begin about three miles from the Juniata, widening from
that point in its extent to the lower part, twenty miles distant
in Mifflin county. Mill Creek rises in the ridges of Henderson,
and having a very rapid descent affords several small but good
water powers. The soil of Kishacoquillas Valley is fertile, resting
upon a limestone base, and in this part are some finely improved
farms. Sandstone of superior quality for the manufacture
of glass is obtained from Rocky Ridge, and iron ore and
fire clay abound in almost inexhaustible quantities. The 
development of these minerals and the ordinary agricultural 
pursuits constitute the chief employment of the people.

(To Be Continued)
THE DAILY NEWS. HUNTINGDON. PA^ THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 1931.
(Brady Township, Continued)

Pioneers
A number of pioneers lived within its borders prior to the
Revolution, of whom little can be said. The Pridmore, Vaudervander,
Eaton, Laudenslager and several other families were among
the inhabitants of that period. The memory of the Eaton family
and young Laudenslager is perperpetuated in connection with
the Indian troubles in 1778. Young Laudenslager was assassinated
by the Indians, and the same day they visited the cabin
of the Eaton family, and finding the husband away, took captive
his wife and two children, plundered the house, and set it on
fire. Before it was entirely destroyed, Mr. Eaton reached his
home, and saw enough to lead him to believe it the work of
savages. An alarm was sent to Fort Standing Stone, parties were
sent in pursuit, but the savages were not overtaken. Some 
hunters years afterwards found bones of the family in 
Warriorsmark township.
At this time Peter Vandevander was living on the Juniata, on a
fine tract of meadow lands, in the locality which became known
later as Vaudevander's Bridge. He came from Montgomery county
before the Revolution, and brought with him a negro slave
and an Irish servant, who worked for his passage money. He carried
on a distillery, and owing to the prominent location of his
place, his house was somewhat of the nature of an inn, where every
one enjoyed the old gentleman's freely dispensed hospitality. 
He was an ardent patriot, and thoroughly detested the Toryism of
his neighbors, especially the pronounced sentiments of Jacob Hare.
On the day following the events above related Vandevander
was attracted to the door of his house by the rattle of a drum in
the possession of some of Capt. Blair's rangers, who were coming
up the road on their march in pursuit of the Tory John Weston.
Upon their approach Vandevander demanded the cause of the noise,
and being told that they were hunting John Weston and his
Tory adherents, exclaimed "Hunting Tories, eh? Well, Capt. Blair,
you must go and hunt Jake Hare. He is the vilest Dory in all 
Pennsylvania. He told Weston he would fight mit him when he
came here with his Indians. This little speech and the whiskey
Vandevander was dealing out freely induced the Rangers to
hunt up Jacob Hare at once for the purpose of castigating him.
When they reached his little valley they found him at work in
his barn. A rope was fastened around his neck and the other
end thrown across a beam in the building, but before he was 
seriously injured the soldiers listened to the entreaty of 
Capt. Blair and spared the life of Hare, under promise that 
he would leave the country.
Peter Vandevander was a great hunter, and many stories of his
skill and narrow escapes used to be related. Of his family he had
sons named Isaac, Abraham, Jacob and John. His daughters
married Sarah, to George Armitage; Catharine to Samuel Shaver,
of Hill Valley; Rebecca to Samuel Hampson, of Brady; 
Elizabeth to a man named Eichelberser. who moved to Alabama; 
he and his wife going thither on horseback; Dorcas, to Alexander 
Jacobs, of Hollidaysburg; Martha to Peter Swope, of Huntingdon, 
a hatter by trade, and for many years a justice of the peace. 
Dorcas received for her patrimony the Negro slave, but not liking 
his disposition, traded him for a horse and saddle. The sons
Abraham and John Vandevander lived and died, in Brady; Jacob
migrated to Indian; and Isaac married Mary Enyeart, and lived
in McConnells town until his death in 1844, aged 64 years. He
served as captain in the war of 1812, and held the office of 
justicefor many years. He was the father of John Vandevander, 
of Walker; Peter who was assassinated near Barree Forge in 
1863; and of a third son named William. His daughters married
Thomas Lucas, James Patton, Charles Geissinger, John Householder,
Thomas G. Strickler, John Dean and Henry Barrick. 

(To Be Continued)'
THE DAILY NEWS, HUNTINGDON, PA. FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 1931.
(Brady Township, Continued)

Caleb Armitage, a German, after his immigration to America,
lived at Germantown, but before the close of the Revolution 
the family settled near the mouth of Mill Creek, and he became
owner of the Pridmore mills. For a time he was an officer in the
struggle for independence, but left the service at the time 
indicated. He had sons named John, who was born in 1767 at 
Philadelphia, and lived at Petersburg, but was drowned in the 
Juniata near Huntingdon. He was the father of sons named 
Benjamin and Valerias, who removed to the West. Benjamin, 
the second son, after living many years in Henderson,
died in Huntingdon. Caleb, the third son, married Jane
Simpson, of Brady, and settled in that township. His sous were
Caleb and Alexander, the latter yet living in Huntingdon. George
Armitage, the fourth son, was in the war of 1812, where he 
contracted a disease which caused him to be lame for life.
He was married to Sarah Vandevander, and lived in Henderson.
Of his family, John, elected Sheriff in 1844, died at Huntingdon.
Margaret married John Cresswell, Jr., an attorney at Hollidaysburg.
Another son of Caleb Armitage died while a youth. His daughters
were Nancy, who married a Mr. Alexander, and moved to
Western Pennsylvania: Sally, who became the wife of Alexander
Powers, and lived in the Kishacoqmllas valley; Jane become the
wife of John McConnell, proprietor of the Black Bear hotel
at Huntingdon. He was the father of Dr. James McConnell,
of Sandusky, Ohio, and of daughters who became the wives of 
David McMurtrie, Augustus Banks, William Williams, and
Seth T. Hurd. Margaret became the second wife of John Miller, of
Huntingdon, the father of Dr. George A. Miller, who lost his
life in the Mexican war. His daughters by this marriage became
the wives of Albert J Gower, of Staunton, Va.,, George
Welch, of Bellefonte, William Welch, of the same place, and
Judge George Taylor, of Huntingdon. The descendants of the
Armitage family became very numerous.
Alexander Simpson, an Irishman, came to Brady some time
after the Revolution, living many years near the mouth of Mill
Creek, but later made his home on the ridge in the western part
of Brady, where he died about sixty years ago. His son Robert
married Katie Houck, and moved to McKeesport; James married
Anna Goodman, and lived on the homestead until his death in
1862, aged 78 years. He was the father of Samuel G. Simpson,
living in Brady; Capt. Wm. H., of Illinois; David P., of 
Mill Creek; John of Henderson; James of Illinois; Dr. George W., 
of Mill Creek; Alfred, deceased; and Andrew
P., of Brady. His daughters married A. V. Westbrook, ot
Philadelphia, and B. A. Shaver, of Illinois.
Poster, another son of Alexander Simpson, lived in Henderson
until his death. His daughters married John Westbrook, ot
Huntingdon, Caleb Armitage, of Henderson, and William Copeland,
of Wisconsin.
The Rev. Samuel Lane was one of the pioneers of Brady, settling
on Mill Creek some time about 1790. The Lane family
came from England, and from the pareptal home in Virginia some
of the members found their way to Maryland and later to Pennsylvania.
The life of Samuel Lane was mainly given to the
ministry of the Baptist church, and, as its missionary, he rode
through many parts of Huntingdon county when it was almost
an unbroken forest he had to blaze his own paths to the homes
of the poor settlers, who heard him gladly as he preached in
their cabins or in the open air. He attained the advanced age of
95 years, dying about 1812 on his farm on Mill Creek, later owned
by Amos Smucker. He was thrice married, and reared twenty-one
children, all of whom became heads of families and had numerous
children of their own. (Rev. James R. Lane, Dunkard
preacher; Franklin H. Lane, of Huntingdon; and 
Eleanor McCartney, of Huntingdon; and Sarah, wife of 
John E. Smucker, Huntingdon, were all grandchildren
of Rev. Samuel Lane, with descendants at Huntingdon.)
On Mill Creek, above the Lanes, lived the Hall family, of which
Adam was a son, dying about 1809.
Lewis Metz, a native of Lancaster county, settled first in
Huntingdon, and afterwards in Logan township, in the early
history of the county. He had two sons, John and Lewis. The
latter was a. tailor, -while John •was a physician, who settled 
in the upper part of the township. He was father oE John K, Metz,
proprietor of the Eagle Mills, of Brady.

(To Be Continued)
THE DAILY NEWS» HUNTINGDON. PX. SATURDAY, JANUARY 31, 1931.
(Brady ToVnship, Continued)

 Christian Yoder, a Mennonite, was a pioneer settler in Brady. 
He was a corpulent man, weighing more than two hundred and
eighty pounds, and from this circumstance was commonly called
"Big Christian". The settlement of Christian Detwiler, of 
Quaker parentage, was much earlier. He located near the Sulphur Springs.
John Brown, of Scotch-Irish descent, came from Berks county, after the 
Revolution, and settled near the head of the valley. His family at 
that time consisted of his wife and one child, aiid
the journey was made on horseback, over very rough roads,
causing the mother at one time to drop her child, fortunately without 
injuring the boy. This son was named William, who lived on
the homestead until his death in 1850. The daughters of John
Brown were never married, and the last of his children died in
January, 1880, aged S3 years. Cyrus Brown who lived on a farm
next to the homestead, was a son of William. The Livingston 
family came about same time as John Brown, made settlement in 
another part of the county. The Browns were related to them,
the HiiBtons and the Robbs. About 1800 Michael Speck settled
on Jack's Mountain, several miles from Mill Creek, Here he
planted a peach orchard, containing a large number of trees, some
of which are yet in bearing condition (1883). He had a son
named Martin, who moved to Juniata township, where he
reared a large family. One of Michael Speck's daughters married 
"Michael Hawn. He was a son of John Hawn, who settled
near Mill Creek village in 1793, occupying a farm on which was
a small barn and a log cabin, erected by an earlier settler. He
died in 1905, and most of the family moved to Walker township 
and later to Juniata. Abraham Kurtz lived where the
village of Mill Creek is now, and
Christian Stover, owning Pridmore Mills, lived farther up, as
also did Matthew Wilson. Above Jack's Narrows lived Peter Igo,
one of the earliest of Brady's settlers, dying In that locality,
as did also his son Daniel. Among the citizens of a later
period may be classed William Lightner, who was a soldier in
the war of 1812. He was born In Berks county in 1796, and was
but sixteen years old when he enlisted. The Goodman family
came from the same county about the same period, and some of its
members became actively identified with the milling interests of
the township. As early as 1780, James Kelly settled on the 
Stackhouse farm in Brady, coming from. Maryland. Mordecai 
Goswell commenced an improvement on the tract of
land that included the mouth of Mill Creek in the spring of 1766,
and was residing there when the official-survey was made on the
20th of June of that year. This family name is often incorrectly
pronounced Goslin. Mill Creek was often designated as Goslin
Run. John Hann, of Juniata township, told the writer how his
father with his family moved in a wagon from Cordorus township, 
York county, in 1793, and settled on the Mill Creek farm owned by
John Wartz. Wartz lived in the house that stood below the lower
end of the village. David Eaton was the first man buried at Mill
Creek.
John Cadwallader, of Huntingdon, who then owned "Sugar Grove", 
had a saw-mill erected on Mill Creek, between the turnpike
and the river. The mill was run by Andrew Chambers.
In 1880 the population of Brady, including Mill Creek Village, 
was nine hundred and nine.
Industries
The water power of Mill Creek was utilized before the war of
the Revolution to operate a small grist mill for Joseph Pridmore.
It stood near the site of Mill Creek furnace, and was probably
not kept up more than a few years. Christian Stover next
made some improvements, where- by the water-power on the same
stream below was made to operate grist and saw-mills, which
were listed as his property as early as the organization of the
county. Matthew Wilson was a later owner of the property, and
from him it passed into the hands of the furnace company
about 1838. The present mill remains in essentials as built 
by Wilson eighty years ago. It is now owned and operated by th«
Green family.
 
THE DAILY NEWS, HUNTINGDON, FA* MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1931.
(Brady Township, Continued)

A mile above, Adam Hall had a grist and saw-mills about 1804,
and 8 years later began to build a stone grist-mill, but before it
was completed he died, and "William Wolverton finished it.
Less than a mile from this point, up Sadler's Creek, were a
cording machine and pulling-mill, owned by John Piper and operated
by James Porter when James Lane purchased the property
in 1841!. The latter put in machinery [or grinding corn,
built a plaster mill, and several years later a. very good grist-mill.
When it was first set in operalion it had no superior in the
county and enjoyed a large patronage. In 18 05 the property
passed into the hands of George Eby, who repaired the mill, and
added another run oŁ stones, making four in all, capacitating
it to grind 200 bushels per day. Since 1SG9 the mills have been 
owned and operated by John K. Metz, and are known as the
Eagle Mills.
On the same stream James and John McDonald had a saw-mill
and distillery. The latter has long since been discontinued, but
the former is yet operating to a certain extent. McDonald 
subsequently distilled liquor in the southern part of the 
township below Jackstown for G. W. Thompson and others. 
In other localities a number of small distilleries
were carried on On Mill Creek the Lane family
had a pioneer saw-mill, and here Araos Smucker had mills for the
manufacture oE lumber by water and steam-power.
Above the furnace mill, Kessler and Brother put up a mill in 1S50
for the purpose of grinding the leaves of the sumac bush and 
triturating it to a fine powder. Itwas successfully operated until
1868, since which time the mill has been idle, although the machinery
remains in the building The leaves crushed were gathered
in June, July and August, and after being shade cured were purchased
at the rate of one dollar per hundredweight. The ground
material was sold chiefly in Philadelphia, and used for the purpose
of coloring morocco leather. Mill Creek furnace was built in
1838, above the old Wilson Mills, by Dr. Jonathan H. Dorsey and
Gen. S. Miles Green, proprietors of the Barree forge. The site
was selected on account of the water privileges, on the line ot
the canal, and the abundance of wod, which could be used for
charcoaling. The ore was chiefly brought from Franklin township
by canal aud later by railroad, ailthough a quantity of the fossil
ores found in Brady were combined with them, producing a
metal which had a most excellent reputation among manufacturers,
and which was used to a large extent to produce imitation Russia
sheet iron.
After the furnace changed hands several times, it came into
the possession of E. A. Green &.Co., who put in blast in
but after six years operation blew out, and the furnace has since
been idle. When fully operated it employed one hundred and
twenty men, which caused more than forty houses to be built to
accommodate the men, and made the site of the furnace a scene of
great activity. The metal was nearly all taken to Barree Forge,
where it was wrought into blooms, which were shipped to all
parts of the country, adding greatly the reputation of Juniata
iron. The furnace property in Brady embraces about three thousand
acres of land (on which are found two veins of fossil ore, having
an average thickness of 18 inches, and of a quality yielding
33 per cent of metal), a number of houses, and several mills.
Since the furnace ceased to operate the principal industry of
the township has been the Quarrying and crushing of sandstone for
the manufacture of glass. Tho enterprise was begun in 1854 by
Ulrey, King & Co., who shipped the crude stone to Pittsburgh,
where, after being reduced, the sand was found to be of a
superior quality. A machine was finally devised to be operated 
by steam power, which was successfully set in operation i;j lSf>7.
The hamlet of R----ary is in the upper part of Kisbr-.csr'-iillas
Valley, about fives miles from Mill Creek. It consists simply of 
few houses along the public highway, and was never regularly
laid out. having its beginning from the sale of a few lots to
mechanics from the sand works. The postoffice here maintained
bears the name of Airy Dale. The mail service is from Mill
Creek several times per week.

(To Be continued)
Tuesday February 03, 1931
(Brady Township, Continued)

Mill Creek is a village of hundred eighty-eight inhabitants,
situated at the mouth of Mill Creek, on both sides of the
stream. The original plot of the village embraced ten lots, 
sixtysix by one hundred and fifty-four feet, on north side of 
turnpike leading from Huntingdon to Lewistown. It was laid 
out Oct. 12, 1848, by James Simpson, for David Zook &. Co., 
on part of a larger tract of land surveyed June 14, 1786, in 
pursuance of a warrant granted to Joseph Pridmore, March 11, 1780. 
Additional lots were sold adjoining these and on the other side of
the turnpike, but no other plan appears to have been recorded
 At the furnace small stores have usually been, kept by the 
proprietors of the works, and at Jack's Narrows, near the old tavern
stand. Washington Buchanan was in trade a short time. The
tavern was long kept by Andrew Wise, and enjoyed the distinction
of being a local stopping point in canal and turnpike times, where
packet and stage horses were changed. The house was of
stone, and nothing but its walls remain to indicate the site. 
Along the mechanic shops at Mill Creek were the smithy of
Prank Haller, opened in 1851, and continued until his death in
188O. After 1865 another smithshop was opened by Adam Warfel, 
which has been occupied for a number of years past by Isaac Gorsuch, 
being the only shop on the east side. On the west side
the Simpsons put up a shop, in which Aquilla Long carried on
that trade until his death, when Charles Fultz became the blacksmith.
The first physician at Mill Creek was Dr. Chestnutwood, who
came about 1846, and remained a few years. He was followed by
Dr. J. M. Haggerty, and then came Dr. G. W. Thompson. He was 
followed by J. A. Kerr and then I. J. Meals. Dr. S. L. McCarthy is
a native of Brady, a son of John R. McCarthy, for many years a teacher 
at Roxbury. He was a graduate oi Jefferson Medical Colllege in 1870, 
and began to practice at once at Mill Creek. Dr. G. W. Simpson, 
a contemporary physician at Mill Creek, also a native of Brady, 
was horn in 1814. He read medicine with Dr. McCarthy, graduated from
Jefferson in 1876, and has since practiced at Mill Creek.
The pioneer school-house at Mill Creek stood near the spot
where are now the churches. It was a small log building, if anything, 
ruder than the cabins of the patrons of the school. The school was 
attended by the Kelly, Wilson, Igo, Wolverton, Robinson, Armitage 
and Lambert children, and among the teachers were men named Starr, 
Enyeart and McCulloch.
Educational
In 1846 three months school per year were maintained, in which 
were employed three male teachers at twenty dollars per month and 
two female teachers at ten dollars per month. Number of male pupils 
were 75, of female 30, and 30 pupils were reported as studying German. 
The total cost for instruction was one hundred and eighty dollars, 
or thirtynine cents per pupil for each month of school. No report of
value of school buildings appears.
Churches 
As early as 1790 the Rev. Samuel Lane preached in this locality, 
which was probably regarded as an out station of the Baptist Church 
in Trough Creek Valley, of which he was pastor. At that time Rev. Lane
was living on his farm at Mill Creek, and the services were held at his
house and in groves, one of his favorite preaching places being
beneath two flne oak trees which stood not far from the site of the
present meeting house. When the country had become more settled, 
about 1SOO. he urged upon his neighbors, regardless of church distinction, 
the importance of having a house of worship in their midst, and by 
united effort a log meeting house was built on Mill Creek, two miles
from its mouth. In this house shortly after was formed the Mill
Creek Baptist church as a separate and distinct body. In 1825
the church languished, and was reduced in membership and removals to 
a small membership. But in 1832 Rev. Oeorge Higgins held a series of 
revival meetings which resulted in thirty accessions to the membership, 
and once more the church became flourishing.

(To Be Continued)
Huntingdon Daily News Feb 04, 1931 page 4
(Brady Township, Continued)

The records of the church indicate that in 1809 Jonathan Dean
was chosen treasurer, and in April of that year Samuel Lane
and James Hampson, two of the trustees, were instructed to employ 
Robert Carter to get the rest of the colar beams and couple
the rafters of the meeting-house, which was enlarged or newly
built at that time. In Sept. 1827, Matthew Glasgow and John Shaw
were appointed a committee to procure a drum, for the stove.
In 1835 a new meeting-house was built by a committee composed of 
Jno H. Wolverton, W. M. McGee and James Lane. Thomas McGee did 
the plastering on this building, which in a repaired condition 
yet remains, being at present used as a house oŁ worship by the 
Lutherans. In 1850 Brethren Wray and Yoder were appointed to request
the Lutheran congregation to repair the home for the use of it,
and on March 29, 1853, it was voted that the Legislature be
petitioned to appoint Samuel Grove, Samuel Sloan and John C. Watson 
trustees, with power to sell the old meeting-house at a
fair price, the demand for a place of worship at Mill Creek
village, which now began to assume importance, warranting
such action; but it was not until 1857 that the present brick 
house of worship was erected. The Sabbath-school had 12 teachers
and 46 scholars. Ten years later the membership of the church
was only 32, while the school had but 38 scholars.
In 1880 the total number of baptisms reported was two hundred and 
thirty-one, and the actual membership at that time as thirty-six. 
Rev. Samuel Lane, for a number of years, probably until his
death in 1812, was the first to supply the church with preaching.
He was zealous in well-doing, rarely accepting pay for preaching
and delighted in Christian fireside conversations, which endeared 
him to many homes, where his visits were always made welcome. 
He performed hundreds of marriage ceremonies in the new country 
which constituted his parish, and usually betowed half his fee upon 
the bride. After his death there does not appear to have been a regular 
preacher until 1820, when Rov. J. Davis, who had served in the Revolution, 
was reported as the pastor.
In 1840 the Methodist class at Mill Creek was under the leadership of 
Jacob Isenberg, and among its members were Leonard G. Kessler and wife, 
Mrs. Spielman. Mrs. Buchanan, William Pryor and wife, John Ritter and
a few others, numbering about twelve in all. These enjoyed
preaching at stated' periods, belonging to a widely extended circuit. 
Services were held in the school-house, until the membership justified 
the erection of a church building, which was done in 1852, and which 
is yet in use.
It is a plain brick house, and will seat three hundred persons. The
church has sixty members, forming a class led by Anderson Cozzens. 
The Sunday-school has a membership of one hundred. Some of the earliest 
settlers of the township were adherents of the Lutheran church, having
their membership at other points. Later a small congregation was
formed in Brady, which had among its members John Piper and wife, 
John Wolfkill and wife, Michael Hawn and wife, Joseph Camb and wife, 
and later Franklin aud Margaret Wolfkill, George Hawn and Amos Smucker. 
The cemetery in connection with the church, is the oldest in the township,
and one of the first persons interred there was Adam Hall. His remains 
were taken to the church by au ox-team driven by Jacob Hawn.

Additional Comments:
Submitter is not researching in Huntingdon County and has no further information.

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