Montour County PA Archives History.....BATTLE, 1887: History of Montour County: Townships and Early Families
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  http://www.jowest.net/Research/CCBiosIndex2.htm  [Montour Co.]
  
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  HISTORY OF MONTOUR COUNTY
  From
  "The History of Columbia and Montour Counties"
  Battle, 1887
  
  Townships Intro
  
  Anthony - Derry - Liberty - Limestone - Valley
  Mahoning - Mayberry - Cooper - West Hemlock
  
        SOME OF THE EARLY FAMILIES

  Townships of
  MONTOUR COUNTY
  
      "All this part of the State, including what is now Montour and Columbia
  Counties, was erected in 1772 into Augusta and Wyoming Townships, this
  immediate portion of the State, that portion east of Fishing creek was Augusta
  Township. In 1784 what is now Montour County was made Turbut Township; in 1786
  Derry and Mahoning were erected, and these included not only all of what is now
  Montour County but extended into the territory of Columbia and Northumberland
  Counties. What is now Liberty and parts of Valley and Limestone Townships were
  made Madison Township in the latter part of the last century.
  
      The name Turbut comes from Turbut FRANCIS, who according to the earliest
  records seems to have been the first party to purchase lands in what is now
  Montour County. He was a large land speculator and never lived in this part of
  the state.
  
      All the townships now in the county were carved ultimately from Mahoning
  and Derry Townships. When the county was organized, in 1850, it contained
  Franklin, Mahoning, Valley, Liberty, Limestone, Derry, Anthony, Roaringcreek
  and a part of Montour, Hemlock and Madison. All that part of Madison in the new
  county was made a new township and called Madison, and that part of Hemlock and
  Montour was made Cooper Township. In 1853 the line of division of Montour and
  Columbia Counties was changed, and Roaringcreek, Franklin, Madison and Hemlock
  were transferred back to Columbia County; and the new township in Montour
  County became West Hemlock, taken from Hemlock Township, and the portion taken
  from Montour was made Cooper Township, and the part taken from Franklin became
  Mayberry Township. In other words, the final adjustment as we now have them,
  was fixed in 1853.
  
      January 25, 1839, the people of Mahoning and Derry Townships prayed the
  county commissioners to lay off a new township, and on September 25 of that
  year Ezra HAYHURSH, Benjamin HAYHURST, George WILLET and Stephen BALDY were
  appointed to lay off a new township. Accordingly they proceeded to erect a new
  one and called it BALDY Township, now Valley Township, the name given it by the
  commissioners being retained only about eight years."
  
       
  
      MONTOUR COUNTY
  
      Chapter XV
      ANTHONY TOWNSHIP
  
      This was formed in 1849 and named in honor of Judge ANTHONY, who was at
  that time president judge of the courts in the district. Prior to this it was a
  part of Derry Township. It is connected with the earliest history of Montour
  County chiefly through the fact that the old Derry Church, in the division of
  that old township, fell to the territory of Anthony, and is now within its
  territorial limits. The first church meetings held here in the past century
  were under two white oak trees, and which are still standing, and in some
  respects are now associated in the minds of the descendants of these pioneer
  Christian men and women, after the manner of the Charter Oak tree of this
  State. For some years church meetings were held under the spreading branches of
  these two oak trees. In 1802 a little log church was put up a short distance
  below the site of the present church building. It had only a dirt floor, was
  covered with branches of trees and grass and leaves, and on the ground in the
  center of the structure was built a fire in extreme weather. This log house had
  a gallery (evidently a space-saving device) and the rough stairway to this was
  on the outside of the building. A high pulpit was on one side, and just below
  and in front of this was a boarded up box for the choir. Everything about it
  was of the olden time that has passed away. Its attendants were scattered over
  a wide extent of the country. They came from not only the present county
  boundary limits, but from what is now Columbia County, and from Northumberland,
  Luzerne and Lycoming Counties.
  
      Among the prominent organizers of this first church were William McVICKAR
  and Thomas ADAMS; both were the first elders. The first Presbyterian minister
  who preached under the trees was Father DUNHAM, as he was universally called.
  The first regular pastor was Rev. John B. PATTERSON, who filled the place of
  pastor, father and friend to the little flock for forty-one years. He died in
  1843 and was buried in the Derry Cemetery. He was followed by Rev. John H.
  RITTENHOUSE, who came from his native county, near Milton, to take charge. He,
  soon after being installed, commenced the agitation of the subject of a new
  building. The building was erected to the great joy of the minister and people.
  In 1852 he dropped dead while standing in front of the new church that the
  people were then assembling to hear him dedicate in Washingtonville. He was
  succeeded in the pastorate by Rev. John THOMAS, and he in turn by Rev. John
  JOHNSON, and he by the present pastor, Rev. G. A. MARR, who resides in
  Northumberland County. These were all the regular pastors of this church, but
  there were a number of supplies, some of whom filled the pulpit for a long
  periods. The present elders are Andrew BRITTAIN, W. S. POLLOCK, J. W. LOWREY
  and W. C. McVICKAR; the trustees: D. M. SHEEP, James RUSSELL, A. C. DILDINE.
  Present membership, seventy-five. W. C. McVICKAR is superintendent of the
  Sunday-school. The old historic church was torn down (which is now to be
  regretted) to be replaced by the present building, which was erected and
  dedicated in 1846.
  
      Col. Robert CLARK, the eminent patriot and soldier of the Revolutionary
  war, came to what is now this township and settled in 1792. He won and wore his
  eagles in the front ranks in the war for independence. He was born in Dauphin
  County and there grew to manhood. He was present at the sighing of the
  Declaration of Independence. He purchased about 600 acres of land which is now
  the property of Charles MOWREY, just west of the McVICKAR farm. Col. CLARK's
  wife was Sallie HUTCHINSON. They both lie buried in the Derry graveyard. Their
  children, of whom there were seven, are all dead. Their son Robert came to what
  is now Montour County, with his parents, when but fourteen years old, in the
  year 1778. He married Jane WILSON, born in 1780. They had eight children. He
  died in June, 1868, and she died in 1863. They were also buried in Derry
  Cemetery.
  
      White Hall - The first settler here was John FRUIT. He settled here in the
  latter part of the last century--some believe that it was in the year 1800. He
  was a native of Ireland. He opened a store-room in his dwelling soon after he
  came, and afterward put up a store-room; this he built on property now
  belonging to Henry C. MONROE. It was a small frame structure, and in it he kept
  the usual variety to be found in a country store. He sold the store in 1810 to
  John Frederick DERR who carried it on alone until 1841, when he sold an
  interest to William McBRIDE. Mr. DERR died in 1853, when Mr. McBRIDE continued
  to conduct the establishment until 1866 assisted by his son, J. S. McBRIDE, now
  the proprietor The stock was removed to the present brick structure in 1864. ELY
  & MOYER were merchants in this place at an early day. In 1841 Neal McCOY started
  a store which he carried on about six years. The place was called at that day
  "Fruitstown." The mail was carried by a circuitous route from Catawissa to this
  place. It was a pony mail, and the first mail boy on the route was Jacob DYER.
  This postoffice was established in 1820. The postmaster succeeding Mr. BIDDLE
  was John F. DERR. He remained in the office until 1855, when William McBRIDE
  became postmaster. The latter remained until 1862, and then John CRAWFORD was
  installed. He was succeeded by his son, G. W. CRAWFORD, and in turn he was
  succeeded by the present postmaster, J. S. McBRIDE.
  
      Daniel DILDINE, an Irishman, opened the first blacksmith shop. He was one
  of the early settlers of the place. The first hotel or "entertainment for man
  and beast," was the Red House Hotel, by Andrew SCHOOLEY. It occupied the ground
  and house where the present brick store stands. The hotel was torn down to make
  room for the store building. David ELY succeeded Mr. SCHOOLEY in the hotel. The
  latter was succeeded by Ferdinand RITTER, a native of Berks County. Mr. RITTER
  built the present White Hall Hotel in 1818. It was rebuilt in 1849-50.
  
      The White Hall Baptist Church was erected in 1858 at a cost of about
  $1,500. The most active parties in raising the money for the church were
  William McBRIDE, Effie DERR and A. HOLDEN. But they were liberally aided by all
  the residents in that vicinity. Andrew F. SHANAFELT was the first preacher. He
  made his residence in this vicinity. He removed from here to Old Chester where
  he died. The first officers of the church were William McBRIDE and George W.
  SUPLEE, deacons, and Aid HOLDEN and William McBRIDE, trustees. The present
  officers are John CREAMER and William McBRIDE. The Sunday-school superintendent
  is John CREAMER, and the attendance about fifty.
  
      The first school here was taught in 1818 by John REA in a frame building on
  the site of the present schoolhouse. The building was torn down in 1841. The
  present one is a brick building.
  
      The old historic Derry Presbyterian Church is situated about one mile from
  White Hall. The first church building was of nicely hewn pine logs. It was torn
  down late in "the forties" and the present frame structure was put up.
  
      There is a Baptist Church in the place. A frame building near the village
  is also the Primitive Methodist Episcopal Church.
      Among the old families of this village are the CAREYS. John CAREY, now
  residing there, was born in the place. He is over seventy-five years of age.
  
      Exchange - St. James Episcopal Church is located here. The first regular
  pastor was Rev. Milton LIGHTNER. At first services were held in what was known
  as the Baptist schoolhouse. Mr. LIGHTNER's first visit to the place was to
  preach at the funeral of Stephen ELLIS--the first of that name to settle here
  and one of the early settlers in this township. The regular services began in
  1843, and were held regularly. When Stephen ELLIS died he left a verbal will
  giving $200 toward the building of the church, "should there ever be a
  disposition to erect such a building." The erection of the church was commenced
  in 1848 on land purchased for that purpose. The corner-stone was laid by Bishop
  Alonzo POTTER, and that year it was completed and dedicated by the same bishop,
  assisted by Rev. Milton LIGHTNER and others. The prominent contributors were the
  estate of Stephen ELLIS, William ELLIS, Stephen ELLIS (son of Stephen ELLIS,
  deceased, and who now resides in Exchange), Catharine ELLIS and Jane, William,
  Isabella, Ellen and John C. ELLIS, and Milton LIGHTNER and Amos HEACOCK.
  
      Rev. Milton LIGHTNER served the congregation about ten years, and was
  succeeded by Rev. Edwin LIGHTNER, who served the congregation from Danville. He
  was succeeded by Rev. ELSEGOOD, and the ministers in charge, in the order
  following were Revs. FURY, William PAGE, Albra WADLEIGH, Rollin H. BROWN, Abram
  P. BRUSH, Baldy LIGHTNER (son of the first of that name), Frank Duncan JADOW,
  Frank CANFIELD, William JOHNSON, David L. FLEMING, the present pastor, who is
  located in Muncy. The cost of the church building was over $1,300. The first
  officers were William ELLIS, Stephen ELLIS, John C. ELLIS and Amos HEACOCK,
  vestrymen; William ELLIS and Amos HEACOCK, wardens. The present officers are
  Charles REEDER, William ELLIS, John CALDWELL, John D. ELLIS, Robt. CALDWELL and
  Stephen C. ELLIS, vestrymen, and Charles REEDER, senior warden, and S. C. ELLIS,
  junior.
  
      The present Exchange Hall and school was built in 1874, and opened to the
  public and as a school that year. It was erected at a cost of $1,300. The
  building committee was Stephen C. ELLIS, Patrick DENNIN and Dr. McHENRY. The
  first school-teacher in the building was Augustus TRUCKMILLER. This hall is
  occupied by the Odd Fellows and by the Patrons of Husbandry. The building is
  the property of twenty-eight stockholders, who joined together in its
  construction. The first school in Church Hill District, No. 6, was built in
  1849. That building was torn down and the present house erected in 1870, in
  which Miss STINE is the teacher.
  
      Walter JOHNSTON, father of William C. JOHNSTON, the clerk and recorder of
  the county, was the first hotel-keeper in Exchange--about 1839. He left there
  in 1840 and went to Jerseytown. Among the early settlers in this place was
  William CRAIG. The families of John and Alexander CRAIG are still in the place.
  James McKEE was another early settler. John BULL kept a hotel on the top of the
  hill, but his family are gone years ago. The house where he kept his hotel is
  still standing, though it has been closed as a place of entertainment for
  years. One of the old families living above the hill was that of Patrick
  MONTAGUE. David WILSON is now a man over eighty years of age; was among the
  early settlers. Charles CLARK (now a very old man) and family lived north of
  Exchange. His wife was a DERR. He opened the first store in Exchange, built his
  storeroom in 1838 and for a time boarded at Johnston's Hotel.
  
      Exchange Lodge, No. 898, I. O. O. F., has a membership of thirty-eight.
  Exchange was named about 1840. The Crownover mill and a few clustering houses
  were then there. There was an ancient log schoolhouse across the creek from the
  place. The first brick house in the place, now owned by Patrick DINNEN, was
  built by John CALDWELL. It is now a very old house. John CALDWELL married a
  daughter of James POLLOCK, another family of the earliest settlers. The first
  postmaster in the village was Gersham BIDDLE.
  
       
      Chapter XVI
      COOPER TOWNSHIP
  
      This is one of the small townships of the county. Its south base rests on
  the river, and its east line to its north limit follows up the line dividing
  the counties of Montour and Columbia. The entire township is rough and hilly,
  and but sparse agricultural spots in it. There are very few even narrow
  valleys, and yet there is some very good agricultural land. Its most valuable
  part is its mineral deposits. Here is much valuable iron ore yet to be dug, and
  its limestone is valuable. Just north of Grovania are the limestone kilns,
  started some years ago, and promised at one time to become extensive and
  valuable, but the stoppage of the Grove iron-mills at Danville caused a
  cessation of the lime kilns, and they have lain idle awaiting the revival of
  the iron manufactory, when they will become of great value and here will some
  time again be much activity. Two railroads pass from east to west through this
  township--the Catawissa and the D. L. & W. Roads.
  
      Grovania is the only village or postoffice in the township--the village
  here consisting of the name, the store and residence. The place was made a
  station on the railroad soon after its completion, and designated as a
  postoffice. It was named in honor of the Grove Bros., of Danville. Near it is a
  Lutheran Church--St. James--and a cemetery. The church is sometimes supplied
  from Catawissa and sometimes from Danville. St. Peter's Union Church is on the
  opposite side of the township. This is also a Lutheran Church, and is supplied
  in the same manner as is St. James, named above. The place where this latter
  church is located is known as Ridgeville, situated on the old stage road, but
  whose hopes departed when the railroad was built south of it and superseded the
  old coach. It once had a tavern with "accommodations for man and beast." Our
  information is that the earliest settlers in what is now Cooper Township, were
  the KRUMs. There is yet a number of the descendants of this family still in the
  township. Some suppose, on what is apparently good authority, too, that the
  FOUSTs were the early comers to this part of the county. Here again we find the
  CROMLEYs, whose descendants are still living in the neighborhood, where they
  first settled.
  
       
      Chapter XVII
      DERRY TOWNSHIP
      AND BOROUGH OF WASHINGTONVILLE
  
      This is one of the oldest townships and settlements in the county. The
  earliest settler in what is now the territory of this township was a Mr.
  BRITTAIN. One of his sons is Nathaniel BRITTAIN, now aged eighty years, and is
  still living on the old family place. He has in his possession title papers and
  other evidences that establish the fact. Among other very early settlers was
  Jacob SHULTZ, who settled in what is now Limestoneville in 1790; after staying
  there one year he removed to Derry Township and settled on the place now
  occupied by his grandson, J. K. SHULTZ, where he died in 1804; he was buried in
  the Derry Church graveyard. In the year mentioned an epidemic of typhoid fever
  prevailed extensively and carried off a number of the people. Brady's Fort
  (generally printed in the State histories as "Boyle's Fort") was erected toward
  the latter part of the Revolutionary war. It was named after the two brothers
  Col. Sam. and Hugh Brady, who were prominent soldiers in the war for
  independence. Mathew CALVIN was an early settler in Washingtonville. The family
  and descendants are now gone. He built the old frame mill in the town. It was
  twice burned down and as often rebuilt and the last building is still standing.
  Joseph HUTCHINSON settled near Washingtonville at an early day.
  
      William McCORMICK, father of Hon. James McCORMICK of Danville, and William
  SHAW and family were early settlers in Derry. Hon. James McCORMICK was born
  there in 1818. He married Margaret SHAW, daughter of the above named William
  SHAW.
  
      John STEINMAN built a saw-mill in 1812, about half a mile above Mr.
  BILLMEYER's. A turning-lathe is now on the property occupied by the mill.
  
      John AUTEN built a saw-mill in 1812 and in 1814 he built a grist-mill and
  house. The grist-mill has long since been entirely gone--the saw-mill is still
  on the same spot. One of the earliest settlers near Mr. BILLMEYER's was John
  WILSON. He was a prosperous farmer and died on the place where he had made his
  improvement. Stephen ELLIS and his wife Mary (CUNNINGHAM) ELLIS of Donegal,
  Ireland, were of the early settlers in this township. Their son Stephen was
  born in this county May 15, 1807.
  
      Of the earliest ministers of the church was the famous pioneer preacher,
  Rev. J. B. PATTERSON of the Presbyterian Church. He was stationed at
  Washingtonville and had charge of the Derry Church and the Washingtonville
  Church, the latter being both the first log schoolhouse and church combined in
  this part of the county. Mr. PATTERSON died in Washingtonville, and so deeply
  had he impressed the purity and excellence of his character upon the people,
  that his memory now is warmly cherished and is yet "a name to conjure by" among
  the descendants of his old-time parishioners. His descendants are a son and
  daughter now living in the township where he died. The present Presbyterian
  brick church in Washingtonville is a modern building erected about twenty years
  ago, and is the successor in regular line of the primitive little log church, as
  that first building had succeeded the inviting widespread branches of "God's
  first temples."
  
      Washingtonville and Danville constitute the two boroughs of Montour County,
  and they also mark the two oldest settlements in it. It was only incorporated
  into a borough April 28, 1870, the first officers being H. C. SNYDER, burgess,
  and Joseph B. SEIDEL, Andrew C. ELLIS, James A. MILLER, councilmen. The present
  officers are Charles MOWREY, burgess; Charles SHIRES, clerk; John ANDY, A. C.
  COURSON and J. B. SEIDEL, councilmen; J. D. GEIGER, postmaster.
  
      A settlement was made here just prior to the breaking out of the war for
  independence. The BOSLEY water grist and saw-mill had been built prior to 1788.
  It stood just opposite where the present mill stands. It was burned down in
  1826. It was the circumstance of this mill and a few settlements about it, that
  created Brady's fort, or block-house with port holes and for a while a small
  howitzer cannon mounted on it, where the people fled at times from the
  threatened approach of roving savage bands. In the histories of the State this
  is spoken of as "Boyle's Fort." This is an evident mistake as it was built and
  named for the two Revolutionary heroes, Hugh and Sam. BRADY, brothers. In 1788,
  as mentioned elsewhere, great suffering threatened the people in the way of
  famine. Philip MAUS bought a quantity of grain at the time, of John Montgomery,
  of Paradise farm and delivered it at the mill. At this early day the place was
  called Washington. From old papers in the possession of Philip F. MAUS, we
  learn that in 1778 Samuel SMITH, Adam HELPLEMAN, and Robert ROGERS were some of
  the parties then living in the vicinity of the place, and that they got some of
  the wheat he had bought from Paradise farm. Samuel HUTCHINSON purchased the
  mill of BOSLEY. He was a leading man of the early times, and was principal
  owner of the village. He was succeeded in the mill by his son-in-law, Mathew
  CALVIN. He ran the mill successfully for a number of years, and at the same
  time owned and managed a large farm in the immediate vicinity. He was a strong,
  intelligent and well educated man; a free and independent thinker on all
  subjects, but more especially on religion. He donated, however, the ground for
  the frame Presbyterian Church built in 1832. His son Samuel taught school in
  Washingtonville at an early day; he removed to Huntington County, became a
  lawyer and was elected to Congress. Before going to Congress he had been
  elected and served as judge. Mathew CALVIN was the first postmaster in
  Washingtonville. Dr. NEWCOMBE was the first physician to locate in the village.
  Just before the Revolutionary war Mr. ALLEN had built and opened the first hotel
  in the place. Mr. ALLEN's successor in the hotel was Thomas BUSKIRK. The first
  blacksmith was Robert WALKER. He was a good workman. He invented and made the
  once celebrated Walker plow. He was full of industry and enterprise and built
  finally a factory and foundry. In his old age he removed to Lancaster where he
  died.
  
      Three churches were built in Washingtonville--the Presbyterian, Lutheran
  and Methodist. For many years the people worshipped at the old Derry Church,
  four and a half miles northeast of Washingtonville, where the celebrated Rev.
  John B. PATTERSON ministered for a long time, the particulars of whom are fully
  given elsewhere. He went from Danville to Washingtonville in 1798, purchased and
  settled upon the old homestead farm about a mile east of the village where his
  son and daughter now reside. The early members of this the oldest church in
  this part of the county were James BIGGINS, Col. Robert CLARK, the eminent
  Revolutionary soldier, William McCORMICK, James BARBER, Thomas BARBER, Andrew
  SHEEP, Samuel BRITTAIN, Joseph HENDERSON, James LOWRIEE, Joseph HENDERSHOT,
  Gersham BIDDLE, James POLLOCK, Thomas MOREHEAD, John CARR, John ALLEN, James C.
  SPROUL, Thomas ADAM, James McVICKAR, John RUSSELL, John CRAIG, William PEGG,
  Samuel HUTCHINSON, Charles McKEE, James SIMINGTON, Robert SHEARER, Thomas
  FOSTER, Thomas ROBINSON, John BLEE, and Mr. McHORD. These all worshipped at the
  old Derry Church until 1832, when a building was put up in Washingtonville.
  
      The first store in the place was kept by Nathaniel SPENCE. His successor
  was William McCORMICK. The latter was one of the prominent men of his day, a
  native of Ireland.
  
      There is some dispute now as to where the old fort or block-house stood.
  Some think it stood in the valley just across the creek from the borough, while
  others contend it stood just back of Front Street, between Church and Water
  Streets.
  
      The first schoolhouse was built in the last century soon after the close of
  the war. It was a square pen of unhewn logs of uneven length, a log taken out of
  three sides for windows. It stood on the street opposite to where John HEDDEN
  resides. Early in this century Washingtonville was quite an important place; it
  was on the mail stage route through the county. In 1838 it had as many as four
  hotels and four stores. The leading business men at that time were James and
  David McCORMICK, sons of William McCORMICK; Neal McCOY, son of Robert, and the
  firm of GRIM, DERR & DYE. Aaron MOSER now keeps the hotel that is among the old
  improvements of the place.
  
      Derry Lodge, No. 759, I. O. O. F., has a membership of twenty-eight.
  
       
      Chapter XVIII
      LIBERTY TOWNSHIP
  
      Col. Thomas STRAWBRIDGE, of Chester County, Penn., was probably among the
  very first in what is now Liberty Township. He was a conspicuous Revolutionary
  soldier; a man of eminent patriotism as a citizen, and a Rupert in war. His
  coming to this part of the State was contemporary with that of Gen. William
  MONTGOMERY, whose sister, Margaret, he had married in Philadelphia. Col. Thomas
  STRAWBRIDGE and wife, Margaret, had four children. Their son James married Mary
  DALE, and of the issue of this marriage is Dr. James Dale STRAWBRIDGE, of
  Danville. For a full genealogy of this family see the biography of Dr.
  STRAWBRIDGE in this book. Col. Thomas STRAWBRIDGE and his brother-in-law, Gen.
  William MONTGOMERY, were among the early settlers in this portion of the State
  and prominent and central figures. They established almost all the first
  commercial and manufacturing enterprises; they filled the prominent public
  offices, and yet were not politicians nor place seekers. If the necessities of
  their home people required their presence, they were ever ready to resign
  office and come home, as did Gen. Montgomery when in Congress. Col. Thomas
  STRAWBRIDGE was judge of the courts of Northumberland County in 1795. He
  established a tannery in Liberty Township, the first thing of the kind in this
  part of the State.
  
      The McWILLIAMSes were among the earliest families who settled in what is
  Liberty Township--Robert McWILLIAMS his three sons, Hugh, John, Robert, and
  daughter, Jane, who had married Robert CURRY in Ireland. The McWILLIAMSes
  bought land in 1771, which was the family homestead, near Mooresburg. at the
  time they came there there was a family named MOORE living where Mooresburg now
  stands. The sixth generation of the first Robert McWILLIAMS who came here is now
  represented in the children of Dr. R. S. SIMINGTON of Danville, traced as
  follows: The eldest son of Robert McWILLIAMS, Sr., was Hugh, whose son was
  Robert No. 2, and his son was Hugh No. 2, and the last named was the father of
  Mrs. Dr. Robert S. SIMINGTON, and hence her children: Gertrude, born November
  13, 1855, and married Calvin LEINBACH, January 15, 1885; Harriet Elizabeth,
  born October 11, 1857, and Anna Jean, born June 30, 1867, are the living sixth
  generation from the first Robert McWILLIAMS. The wife of Robert McWILLIAMS was
  Jean ORR. They were married in Scotland and removed to the North of Ireland
  prior to coming to this country. They stopped at first in Chester county, and
  the wife died a short time before they moved to this place. Hugh was killed by
  the Indians in 1775. His only son, named Robert, was six months old at his
  father's death. He was born in July, 1775.
  
      Robert McWILLIAMS' mother was Rebecca DUNWOODY, who had married Hugh about
  the year 1774. Robert married his relative, Jane CURRY, in May, 1798. She was a
  daughter of the Robert CURRY who was massacred by the Indians. Her mother was
  Jean McWILLIAMS CURRY. Some of the children of this marriage were Hugh, born
  April 18, 1799, died in 1877, John, Mary and Jean. This Hugh McWILLIAMS married
  Rebecca LEMON April 13, 1830. She was the daughter of James and Rachel LEMON,
  born in Point Township, Northumberland County. Their children were Harriet,
  born January 26, 1831, married to Gilbert VORIS March 14, 1854; Regina Jane,
  born July 3, 1833, married Dr. Robert S. SIMINGTON December 28, 1854, both of
  Liberty Township, and Anna Rebecca who married January 23, 1861, F. K. HAIN,
  general manager of the New York elevated railroads. Thus both sides of the
  house, the McWILLIAMSes and CURRYs, had been sufferers from the murderous
  Indians. Jane CURRY, who was born February 8, 1773, was the first white child
  born in this section of the country, between the north and west forks of the
  Susquehanna River.
  
      Among the earliest records pertaining to this township is the deed from the
  Penns in 1795 of 329 1/2 acres of land. Thomas J. CLARK now resides on this
  land, northwest of Mooresburg. The title to this property remained in the
  church until 1806 and was then sold to Robert FINNEY, where he made his
  improvement and resided until his death in 1839. FINNEY was in his day a noted
  character and contributed his full quota to the people's enjoyment by his many
  eccentricities. He was a harmless old bachelor who lived by himself after the
  death of his mother and sisters, noted for his hard work, year in and year out,
  and his pinching economy. He was odd in everything, dress, manners and habits.
  He purchased the farm and paid for it in threshing wheat with the old flail--a
  long hickory pole, cut and bent, with the heavy end so as to pound the sheaf of
  wheat and thus thresh it out. He lived in the old out-building on the place, and
  in the severest winter weather would take what little stock he had into the
  building with himself, and often in the dead of winter he carried straw from
  Danville to his place to feed his kine.
  
      Among the early settlers are the present descendants of the BILLMEYERs.
  This was a large and influential family noted for their frugality, prosperity
  and enterprise as farmers. John STEINMAN built a saw-mill about half a mile
  above BILLMEYERs, in 1812. There is now a turning-lathe on the old mill
  property. John AUTEN built a saw-mill also in 1812, and in 1814 he added to his
  saw-mill a grist-mill. The lumber for his house and grist-mill was cut at his
  own saw-mill, and these buildings were erected as soon as he could thus secure
  the lumber. The grist-mill was worn out and torn down. The saw-mill still
  stands in the shape of a modern built mill as a successor to the first one.
  These two saw-mills and the grist-mill were the only ones in this part of the
  county at that time, and here for many years the people in the vicinity had
  their grain ground and their lumber cut.
  
      John WILSON purchased land adjoining the BILLMEYER place. He improved about
  175 acres and on this farm made his residence until he died. In the olden time
  every neighborhood imperatively needed a weaver to weave the cloth from wool
  and flax for wearing apparel for the people--the hatter, the weaver and the
  itinerant shoemaker were the only sources of supply for the average person's
  clothes of that day of rural simplicity and frugality. The entire scheme of
  social economy is now wholly changed--a change wrought mostly by the wonderful
  mechanical inventions and appliances of the American people. There are but few
  of the industries now carried on in which machinery has not been introduced
  whereby one man can do the work of from seven to ten men, and in no occupation
  has greater improvement been made than in that of weaving, and yet we note the
  singular fact that wearing apparel is much more expensive now than it was
  three-quarters of a century ago. The spinning jenny and the cotton-gins have
  taken away much the larger proportion of the time and toil upon each yard of
  cloth, as compared with half a century ago. These remarks are parenthetical to
  the fact that in the early times George WAGNER, a weaver, located in the
  township. After working here some years he removed to Limestone, and stopping
  there some time he again removed, this time to Washingtonville, where he
  remained until he died about 1862. Of this family there were a number of
  children. James and John McMAHAN were of the first settlers. These two brothers
  were noted Revolutionary soldiers, as were the two BILLMEYER brothers, George
  and Martin. The McHAHANS settled just west of Mooresburg. Another family that
  to this day are closely allied with the history of this part of the county, the
  SIMINGTONs, sent John and Peter to the war of 1812-15. This particular family of
  the BILLMEYERs settled in the Chillisquaque. One of that name is now living in
  the house built by his great-grandfather.
  
      The oldest church in the northwest part of the county is the Chillisquaque
  Church. It is still a church regularly offering its ministrations to the living
  and its hopes and consolations for the dead. Their present building was erected
  in the early "fifties." The minister in attendance is Rev. H. G. FINNEY, who
  also serves at Mooresburg. The church at the latter place was erected about
  forty years ago.
  
      Mooresburg was laid out in 1806 by Stephen MOORE, one of a noted family who
  came to Pennsylvania that year. The town plat originally embraced thirteen acres
  of ground, and the first house erected as a residence by Mr. MOORE. John, Joseph
  and Andrew MOORE were three brothers who came to this county in the ship
  "Welcome" in company with William Penn in 1682. They were members of the
  society of Friends. Stephen MOORE was a grandson of the John MOORE mentioned
  above, whose family had settled near Pennington, N. J. Stephen was born in 1759
  and died in Mooresburg, January 20, 1813. He had married Parthenia, daughter of
  Andrew YOUNG. She was born in 1760 and died in 1830. Their issue were ten
  children, namely: Lydia, Abner, Asa, Samuel, John, Hannah, Burrows, Charles M.,
  Andrew and Edward S. The brothers of Stephen MOORE were Samuel and Edward, and
  his sister's name was Hannah. John MOORE married Elizabeth DONALDSON of
  Danville. The only descendants of Stephen MOORE now here are Mrs. Anna A.
  (MOORE) BIDDLE, the daughter of John MOORE and granddaughter of Stephen, and
  the children of William BIDDLE, deceased. William BIDDLE and Miss Anna A. MOORE
  were married December 6, 1860. Messrs. MOORE and BIDDLE lived in Danville and
  started the first foundry in the town. This they carried on successfully for
  many years. Mr. BIDDLE was a relative of Nicholas BIDDLE on one side, and was
  told he was one of the heirs of the great Jennings estate that attracted such
  wide attention for many years.
  
      The Catawissa Railroad passes directly by the village and has a depot for
  the convenience of the people.
  
       
      Chapter XIX
      LIMESTONE TOWNSHIP
  
      This was one of the townships struck off from Derry in the latter part of
  "the forties." It is in the heart of the rich agricultural portion of the
  county. The oldest living resident of this township is Joseph GIBSON; he is the
  great grandson of the noted early settler and surveyor, Henry GIBSON. His
  father, Henry GIBSON, died in November, 1860, aged eighty-two years and eight
  months. Through the three generations born and reared in this county, they have
  been of the most prominent people in this part of the State. The VALIET family
  can trace their lineage back to the Crusaders of the tenth century. The first
  immigrants to come to this country arrived in Allentown in 1749. The present
  representative of this family in Limestone Township is Stephen VALIET. Probably
  the next oldest families to come to this country were the DAVISes, now
  represented by Joshua DAVIS. They came to the country in 1754. Of the early
  settlers were the GOUGER family. John William GOUGER was long a representative
  pioneer settler and the family were among the most prominent and influential
  people in the county. Jacob GOUGER came with his parents when a child. Jacob
  SHULTZ was a pioneer to this part of the State and a soldier in the war of
  1812. He lived in the township until he died. James SHELL married a daughter of
  his and is now residing on the SHULTZ farm. The FULMERS were early comers and a
  people much respected. One of them served some time as associate judge in this
  county.
  
      Limestoneville was founded by Daniel SMACK in 1835. He had settled here,
  and about that time erected dwelling and store, making a large establishment
  for that day, and one of the finest store-rooms in the county. He determined to
  make a town of the place and he allowed full swing to his spirit of enterprise.
  He built a blacksmith shop and secured a smithy to run it; then a tailor and
  fixed him up in a shop, and then a shoemaker. But he did not stop with the
  temporal comforts and affairs of the people, but pushing ahead he built a
  Methodist Church and called able and earnest flock tenders to wend their way to
  his moral green pastures. The church building is a frame, and is supplied
  regularly from Milton. A very nice brick schoolhouse was put up. Indeed Mr.
  SMACK's ambition was fully consummated--a town had been built up, and the
  outlook was flattering for its continued prosperity. A hotel had been opened by
  a German. BALLIET & McCORMICK had opened a store, and then bought out SMACK's
  store and its belongings, which included the town itself, and they became not
  only the store-keepers but the town proprietors. They conducted the mercantile
  business with success until 1848, when they sold to Jacob WIDENHOWER. There are
  now two stores in the place, many comfortable residences and the general
  surroundings that are important to the people in a small village. It is one of
  the nine places in the county that has a postoffice. Near Mr. GOUGER's
  residence in this township is a place called California. It is merely a cluster
  of farm houses adjacent to each other, and in the settlement is a schoolhouse.
  
       
      Chapter XX
      MAHONING TOWNSHIP
  
      An old document, dated June, 1798, was made by Philip MAUS, collector of
  the township, and contains a list of taxables in the township for all that
  year. It is only a majority of them who were residents of what is now Mahoning
  Township, for the reason that now its territorial limits are much smaller than
  they were then. The list includes probably about all who were then residents of
  the entire county, and part of Columbia County, and it is as follows: Paul ADAM,
  James BURK, Robert BIGGERS, John BUGART, Daniel BARTON, Elisha BARTON, Cornelius
  BOGART, Abraham BOGART, Stephen BROWN, Peter, Frederick and Michael BLUE, Thomas
  BOYER, John CLARK, James CONIFRAN, Isaac CALDEN, Duncan CAMERON, Widow CURRY,
  Geo. CALDWELL, John CALDWELL, John and William COX, William CORNELIUS, Widow
  CAMERON (grandmother of Hon. Simon CAMERON), Andrew COUGHRAN, John and Thomas
  DAVIS, Samuel ERWIN, John ENRIT, Sr. and Jr., John and Daniel FRAZER, Michael
  HILLE, Hugh and Thomas HUGHES, David INAWALT, James GETPLIN, James KERMER,
  David KERR, John MOORE, Philip MAUS, John MILLER, William MONTGOMERY, Alex.
  McMILLEN, Benjamin MARTIN, William MARTIN, Aaron and Daniel PEW, Daniel
  PHILLIPS, ____ ROBINSON, Leonard RUPERT, James RABE, John STEWART, James
  SAMPLE, John SEIGLER, Michael SUNDES, Jacob VANDERBILT, Gilbert VORHIGH, John
  WOODWARD, John WILSON, Joseph WILLIAMS, Thomas WILLETTS, John YOUNG, Alexander
  SELIMAN, Harman ZULIC. The list separates the young men from the married men,
  and the list of the young men is as follows: Geo. MAUS, Isaac BUDWAN, Mike
  SAUNDERS, John COOK, Samuel ENRIT, Jacob SECHLER, Alexander McGEE, William
  RICHARD, David STEELE, Jacob GROFF, Widow CAMPBELL (a young widow, it is
  supposed), Jonathan D. SARGEANT, Michael BRIGHT, William CLARK, Widow DUNCAN,
  Daniel HEISHER, Abel and Daniel REESE, Aaron LONG, Geo. MILLER, Evan OWEN,
  David PHILLIPS, Widow ZIMES, Thomas ROBINSON, Alexander BERRYHILL, William
  ROSS, Abner WICKERSHAM, Dennis LEARY, James HUNTER, George FANT, John BUEL,
  Cadwallader ZOWNS, Samuel PLEASANTS.
  
      The Danville Insane Asylum is located in Mahoning Township; a full account
  will be found in Chapter III. The Danville and Mahoning Almshouse is also in
  this township. It is in the east part of the township, two miles from
  Danville--the Catawissa Railroad passing through a portion of the land. The
  land was purchased in October, 1854, of John HARTZELL and wife, consideration
  &7,000, and comprises 116 acres. It was built for the purpose of caring for the
  paupers of Danville and Mahoning Township, and is under the control of three
  directors. The present ones are Elijah C. VORIS, John C. ROBERTS and James
  WOODSIDES; clerk, William M. RUSSELL. At the present there are twenty-five
  inmates, eighteen males and seven females, all under the care of Elijah
  SECHLER, steward, appointed annually by the directors.
  
       
      Chapter XXI
      MAYBERRY TOWNSHIP
  
      This is one of the youngest townships in the county. It is cut off from the
  main body of the county by the Susquehanna River, including the only portion of
  the county's territory that runs across the river to the south. The river forms
  its north boundary line; the east line is the county line, and the south and
  west line is the dividing line between it and Northumberland County. The
  township was formed in 1850 of territory taken from Franklin Township in
  Columbia County, and was named "Mayberry" in honor of Mayberry GEARHART, a
  descendant of William GEARHART, one of the earliest settlers in this part of
  the county--then Northumberland.
  
      It is broken and hilly, the level or valley land along the course of the
  streams being generally narrow. Mountainous elevations rise but a short
  distance from the Susquehanna River and extend south nearly the length of the
  township. What is called the Sharp Ridge rises on the eastern side of the
  township and passes southwesterly and south through nearly the center of its
  territory; the ascent of this ridge is gradual and the top is comparatively
  level and therefore along this ridge is the main road that is going from
  Danville passes across the north end along the river to Mr. GEARHART's place on
  Roaring creek, and then turns south and passes out at the southwest corner of
  the township. Another road that joins this at the Methodist Episcopal Church
  turns south at the North schoolhouse and goes directly south. This is a shorter
  route to the Lutheran Church and school, but the abruptness of the hills over
  which it passes makes it more difficult to travel. When the high plane is
  reached there is frequently level land and from this the timber has been
  cleared away and farms made. The productive qualities of these uplands are
  fair, but the natural washing of the soil requires careful and faithful
  husbandry. The streams all run north and to the northeast and northwest, the
  two Roaring creeks forming the east and west boundary lines and emptying into
  the Susquehanna. Then near the center between these two streams there is a
  stream heading up near the Sharp Ridge and passing north to the Susquehanna.
  The tributaries of Roaring creek are two, heading at Sharp Ridge and running
  northeast to the main stream. The tributaries of Little Roaring creek rise on
  the opposite side of the Sharp Ridge and run in a northwesterly direction.
  
      The first settlements in this portion of what was then Northumberland
  County were made by Germans, and were on the east side of Roaring creek,
  opposite William GEARHART's first place of settlement, now owned and occupied
  by his son Mayberry. The moving spirit of this first German colony was John
  MENSCH. Charles BOONE, of Berks County, made the original improvement that is
  now the Mayberry GEARHART place. He lived here some years and then returned to
  his old home. Dr. William BOONE lived half a mile up the creek. He lived here
  some years; then went to Ohio, where he was killed. The VOUGHTs were of the
  first to locate in the township. J. VOUGHT's improvement was about a mile still
  further up the creek. Among others to come at an early day was Peter OSMAN. He
  lived near the Methodist Episcopal Church in the north part of the township.
  The exact date when the VOUGHTs came and made what it is now supposed was the
  first settlement in this township is not known. It is supposed it was about the
  end of the last century or the beginning of this. It was about 1820 when the
  BOONEs came, and it is now fifty-four years since William GEARHART made his
  settlement. The accessions to the first cluster of improvements along the
  Susquehanna River were slow in coming. There was then no bridge at Danville and
  but few and rough roads that furnished outlets to other points to the south. The
  census of 1880 showed a population in the township of only 230 souls. The
  township is divided into two school districts, the River District and the
  Centre District. The first schoolhouse, built many years ago, and used for
  church purposes also, stands near the road where it turns south, about half way
  between M. SHULTZ's and D. SHULTZ's farms. About three-quarters of a mile south
  of the schoolhouse is the first church, the Methodist Episcopal Church, built
  in the township, and here was the first cemetery. Then about the same distance
  south of this and on the same road is the Lutheran Church, school and cemetery.
  These were built about 1856. The churches now are and have been supplied from
  other points, holding meetings at stated times.
  
      There is no village or township in its confines. A flag station is on the
  railroad near Roaring creek. The people are agricultural in their habits,
  contented as a rule to plod peacefully along in the footsteps of their
  ancestors. The younger generation, not infrequently going out to larger places
  to attend school, catch the infection of the rushing, ambitious outside world
  and forsake the quiet, rural scenes of childhood, and take up their habitations
  in distant villages, towns and cities of the country.
  
       
      Chapter XXII
      VALLEY TOWNSHIP
  
      The first permanent settlement made in what is now Valley Township, it is
  supposed, was by Phillip (or Philip) MAUS, the founder in this country of that
  large family, in each generation of which there has been a prominent one of
  that name. An extended sketch of Phillip MAUS, the first, is given in the
  chapter entitled "Early Settlers," to which the attention of the reader is
  referred. It is there told that he purchased his land on the Mahoning Creek in
  May, 1769, as soon as it was possible to obtain title in the new Indian
  purchase, including all this portion of the State. As soon as the Revolutionary
  war was drawing to an end, he came with his son and two carpenters to build his
  house in the wilderness. He first visited his purchase in 1782; reported the
  little settlement at Danville had just been founded by the brothers Daniel and
  William MONTGOMERY, and there were there "half a dozen families from the
  southeastern part of the State and from New Jersey." His recollection, which is
  the correct one, is that the MONTGOMERYs had purchased the place of John
  SIMPSON, and also "purchased SIMPSON's saw and flouring mill." So it appears
  that the "saw and flouring mill" had really been built by SIMPSON. With the
  carpenters Mr. MAUS brought with him, his own and his son's help, he erected
  the first cabin in Valley Township. Its site was a short distance from the
  right bank of the stream, nearly half a mile from the present stone mill. He
  contracted for clearing a small tract of land, but the Indians grew so
  threatening that he buried all the tools and other chattels he could, in order
  to keep them from the savages. From his recollections, as written by John
  FRAZER, we extract the following account of the killing of Robert CURRY. Of the
  many conflicting accounts this is probably the most reliable:
  
      "Two years previously, in May, 1780, Robert CURRY and his wife, traveling
  on horseback from Northumberland, on the way to their little farm on the
  Mahoning, when about midway between the two places, were attacked by the
  savages. He was killed and scalped and his skull broken to fragments with their
  tomahawks. She was taken prisoner. Her hair was long and jet black, which they
  greatly admired. They told her she was 'a much pretty squaw,' and would not
  hurt her. They traveled until night when they encamped. They then tied her
  hands and feet with hickory bark. Soon they were in a profound sleep, when she
  cut the bark from her wrists and ankles. She had concealed a pair of scissors
  about her person which, fortunately for her, escaped their vigilant search when
  she was first made captive. She fled from their camp as fast as possible, but
  they soon missed her and, lighting torches, pursued her in all directions. She
  concealed herself in the top of a fallen tree. They passed over the trunk of
  the tree and, as they did so, cried out: 'Come out, squaw, we see you. Come
  out, pretty squaw, we see you.' After some time spent in fruitless search they
  abandoned it, broke up their camp before daylight and pursued their journey.
  She then returned to the remains of her murdered husband and gathering up the
  pieces of his skull in her apron, took them to her house which she reached the
  next day. The agony and deep distress of this poor woman may be conceived, but
  the pen utterly fails to describe them."
  
      A fragment of a letter from Mrs. MAUS dated "Northumberland, 1783," is so
  full of interest that we give all that part of it contained in the torn portion
  of the original letter, as follows:
  
            "Your brother George likes this place very well. When you come, do
  not fail to bring 100 White Chapel needles and two or three ounces of thread
  suitable for sewing calico and home-spun linen. Give my love to your grandpa
  and grandma, and tell her I wish her to come with you and see us; we will
  arrange for her journey to Lebanon and back. You will see Rev. STOY's palace.
  Tell her the PENINTON's house up Race Street is nothing to compare to it and
  Dr. STOY lives only seventy-five miles from us. * * * Tell the girls that Susy
  and the young girls here take a canoe and go into the river fishing by
  themselves; the river is as clear as a spring and not half a yard deep. This is
  a most beautiful and picturesque place. We have the wild deer not half a mile
  from us, skipping about the hills where the boys go to fetch the cows.
            (Signed.) Your loving mother, Frances MAUS
  
      Philip MAUS built his mill in 1793, and here was cut the lumber for nearly
  every building erected for years in the surrounding country. The limestone
  found here was a valuable material in building what we may term the second crop
  of settlers' houses. It eventually became the great source of supply to the
  Danville iron furnaces. In the year 1800 he erected his flouring-mill. It was
  an imposing stone building for that day, and still is standing, as sound and
  durable, apparently, as when first built. His experience in digging his
  mill-race was varied, one portion being dug by the Catholics and the other by
  Prostestants; and several times Mr. MAUS had to take possession of the clubs
  and shillalahs of both parties to prevent their being worn out over bloody
  heads. This was called their amusement, and by way of explanation of these
  theological discussions it may be stated that these men consumed eleven barrels
  of whisky while at work and play of digging the mill-race.
  
      The experiences of the MAUS family are a graphic illustration of what were
  the sources of past time and work of a respectable, intelligent and well reared
  people. How completely were they thrown upon their own resources. Only when they
  had raised their sheep could they clothe themselves in woolen goods in the
  winter. For summer they made linen goods of the flax they raised. Woolen or
  linen, the men wore "hunting shirts" much after the style to be seen in the
  pictures of Daniel Boone. The MAUS family cultivated, early, two acres of flax.
  There was a Scotch family in the settlement that did the most of the weaving.
  Before the era of wool and flax they dressed deer skins and the hides of other
  wild animals, and of these made clothing. Rabbit-skin caps were quite an
  elegant luxury at one time. A young man when he reached this high-water mark in
  dress was ready to go "sparking" at the bower of the belle of all the land. We
  are told that in the MAUS home during the long winter evenings, by the light of
  lard oil iron lamps they read books of devotion. "Cook's Voyages," Weem's "Life
  of Washington," "Deserted Village," "Vicar of Wakefield," and even "Don
  Quixote." These were read aloud, and sometimes Mr. MAUS would contribute
  immeasurably to the enjoyment by appropriating the dramatis personoe amongst
  them.
  
      When the family reached the possession of an ample fortune a family
  carriage was purchased; it was the style of Louis XIV. Nothing ever created a
  greater sensation in the valley than the arrival of this family carriage. It is
  said to be the first in what is now Montour County. The two MONTGOMERYs had a
  gig each, and these three were the only pleasure carriages in the country for
  many miles around.
  
      Samuel MUSIC was one of the MAUS family's early neighbors. Samuel was noted
  as a good man and excellent neighbor, but also for his moods of humor, and
  sometimes when in low spirits his gruffness was amusing. By those who knew him
  best he was best understood, and when in his grimmest moods his roughest
  speeches were only the sources of smiles among his friends.
  
      The township poor farm is situated near the residence of Judge John
  BENFIELD. It was established about four years after the one of Danville and
  Mahoning. It was made almost compulsory in the township in self protection,
  after the one had been established, to establish the other.
  
      Peter BLUE, Fredrick BLUE and James STUTFELT leased for a time the MAUS
  farm, agreeing to take possession as soon as it would be possible from the
  Indian troubles. They came on according to contract and went vigorously to work
  The arrangements for them to come here had been made in Northumberland, at the
  fort probably.
  
      There are three churches in Valley Township. The Lutheran Church, a brick
  building in Frosty Valley, is the representative of the earliest church in the
  township. We found the oldest inhabitants unable to give us the date of its
  founding but it was sometime in the latter part of the last century. It is
  served from Danville. The Hendricks Methodist Episcopal Church is at a place
  known as Cambellton Hill and the Mausdale Church.
  
      In addition to the MAUS stone mill, Judge John BENFIELD has a mill on his
  place that is a valuable addition to that part of the county.
  
      Mausdale is a small village not quite two miles from Danville. It was
  originally a mere cluster of settlers who were attracted there by the rich and
  beautiful valley and the MAUS mill and improvements.
  
       
      Chapter XXIII
      WEST HEMLOCK TOWNSHIP
  
      New Columbia was once a pretentious village, or rather one that looked
  forward to some future expectations. It was on the Bloomsburg stage route and
  at one time, no doubt, promised itself to have some day a postoffice. But
  relentless fate built the Catawissa Railroad, the stage and stage horn no more
  were on the road and the promised growth of the place departed--moved down, it
  is supposed, to Grovania. But St. Peter's church and Cemetery, with a few
  residences, remain to the place yet. Its name is about all that is left except
  the few comfortable residences belonging to surrounding farmers. The surface of
  the township is hilly and parts mountainous. The agricultural lands are limited,
  being confined to the few narrow valleys. The east branch of Mahoning creek
  passes through the north part of it.
  
      Of the early settlers in this township was George CROSSLEY and family.
  Their settlement was made about a mile south of where New Caledonia now is. The
  descendants of this old family have now all left the neighborhood. The next
  family probably in the order of coming was that of Michael SANDEL. This was a
  large family. There are now in the township Peter, Jacob and Nathan--the latter
  was never married; the others have families. Burtis ARNWINE settled in the
  southern part of the township. This was at one time a numerous family, but now
  they are all gone from this part of the county. Daniel CROMLEY was one of the
  numerous CROMLEY family whose descendants are yet to be found scattered over
  the eastern part of the county. Daniel was among the early settlers in what is
  now West HEMLOCK. Two of the sons are still residing there; one is on the old
  homestead.
  
       
      CHAPTER II. Pg. 6
  
      SOME OF THE EARLY FAMILIES
  
      We are in the dawn of the second century since the first settlers came to
  what is now Montour County. The only record these sturdy people had time to
  make of themselves, for the contemplation and pleasure of their posterity, was
  almost solely by the works of their hands amid trials and difficulties we can
  but poorly appreciate now. Without machinery, tools, money or the rudest
  appliances of civilization, they had to carve out their way against appalling
  obstructions. That they did it, not only well, but at all, is one of the
  marvels in the history of the human race. The world's "seven wonders" that have
  passed down for the admiration of so many ages are, in the aggregate and
  abstract, but childish, simple nothings--floating bubbles--compared to that of
  the continental conquerors--these liberators of the human race, who builded, no
  doubt, wiser than they knew, but yet who built for all ages and for all mankind.
  The sublime story of these simple, grand men and women has never been properly
  told, is not understood by their descendants of to-day. Their memories have
  been grossly neglected and too often now their wonderful story has passed away
  forever with their decaying bones.
  
      The few mentioned in this chapter include but a small portion of those
  whose family names should be indelibly stamped upon the pages of the history of
  Montour, yet these few names include about all, in connection with the accounts
  of many others in different parts of this work, of whom it is possible now to
  give any definite and reliable information.
  
      To write the history of the early days of what now constitutes Montour
  County and to write the history of the MONTGOMERY family would be mostly one
  and the same thing. Gen. Wm. MONTGOMERY wrote this upon the blank leaf of an
  old family Bible: "August 3rd, 1809. - By the goodness of divine Providence, I
  have this day numbered seventy-three years," (not noticing the change of style)
  "and it is but right that I should leave a record of something of God's goodness
  to me in so long a life. I was the third son of Alexander and Mary MONTGOMERY,
  who both died leaving me an orphan of ten or eleven years old."
  
      From Mr. A. F. RUSSEL it is learned that Alexander and Mary MONTGOMERY had
  eight children--seven boys and one girl. William, Daniel and Margaret
  Montgomery emigrated to Northumberland County together from Chester County.
  William was born August 3, 1736, and died in May, 1816, at the green old age of
  eighty years. William had become a prominent man in his native county, Chester,
  before the Revolution. He was a member of the "Associators" and a delegate in a
  convention "of the people of the Province of Pennsylvania," assembled in
  Philadelphia, January 23, 1775. He was again a delegate of the convention that
  assembled in Carpenter's Hall, Philadelphia, June, 1776. He was now "Colonel"
  MONTGOMERY.
  
      In June, 1776, Col. MONTGOMERY's battalion, the Fourth Chester County
  Militia, 450 strong, was "serving its tour" in New Jersey, and it is supposed
  was in the battle of Long Island in August, 1776. Then his regiment became
  known as the "Flying Camp." In 1773 he came to Northumberland County, and
  November 26, 1774, is the date of the deed of J. SIMPSON to William MONTGOMERY
  for "180 acres of land on Mahoning Creek, north side of the east branch of the
  Susquehanna, called "Karkaase." This is the land on which Danville was
  originally laid out. He removed his family to this place in 1776 or early 1777.
  Here his youngest son, Alexander, was born October 8, 1777.
  
      He was a fearless borderer of brawn and brain admirably suited to the
  turbulent times that were then upon the country, and that in consequence of
  Indian raids weighed so heavily upon the outer settlements. In 1779 he was a
  member of the Assembly from Northumberland County. In March, 1780, he voted for
  an act "for the gradual abolition of slavery." In 1784 he was elected by the
  Assembly a member of Congress; resigned February 7, 1785. In 1785 he was
  appointed president judge of the district composed of Northumberland and
  Luzerne Counties. In 1787 he was appointed a commissioner to execute the acts
  of the Assembly entitled "an act for ascertaining and confirming to certain
  persons called 'Connecticut Claimants,' the lands by them claimed in the county
  of Luzerne, etc." In December, 1787, he was appointed deputy surveyor of
  Northumberland and Luzerne Counties; when he received this appointment he
  resigned his office of president judge of the courts. In 1791 he was induced to
  accept a commission of justice of the peace. There last two names acts are
  strong charter marks of the man himself. In 1808 he was presidential elector,
  the vote of Northumberland County standing: William MONTGOMERY,
  Republican-Democrat, 2,793, and for the Federal candidate, 220.
  
      This is the briefest outline of his military and official life, but his
  permanent greatness and fame should rest chiefly upon his domestic, commercial
  and agricultural loans. To the little colony of settlers he was much liked a
  careful and protecting father. He boldly ventured upon any scheme of
  Merchandising or manufacturing that promised to yield good fruits to the
  people. In an address to his neighbors in the dawn of this century he told them
  that these hills were full of iron, and he believed there were those listening
  to him who would live to see here great iron factories, employing vast numbers
  of laborers and yielding boundless wealth to the country. His prophecy became
  entirely realized. He established here the firs saw, grist and woolen-mills,
  the first store, and in fact the first of almost everything that gave such a
  powerful impulse to the building up of the town of Danville. We cannot better
  conclude this account than by completing the quotation from Gen. MONTGOMERY's
  own words with which we commenced this sketch:
  
            "I early married Margaret NIVIN; she was all that could be expected
  in a woman; she was pious, sensible and affectionate; she lived with me about
  thirteen years and had issue, Mary, who died at twenty-three years of age;
  Alexander, who died in infancy; Margaret, who died in the same year with her
  sister; William, who is still alive and has a large family, is about
  forty-seven years old; John, who is about two years younger and has also a
  large family; Daniel, who is still two years younger than John and has a
  family; Alexander, who died about one year old.
  
            "About twenty-two months after her decease I married Isabella EVANS,
  a most distinguished and delightful woman, by whom I had issue, Robert, born in
  April, 1773; Hannah, born the 22d of January, 1775; Alexander, born October 8,
  1777, and Margaret, born January 8, 1784. The three former are still living,
  but she died soon after her marriage with Thomas WOODSIDE. Their mother was
  called away from me in August, 1791, and in April, 1793, I married a worthy and
  eminent woman; her maiden name was BOYD, and she was the widow of Col. Mathew
  BOYD, by whom she had issue, John, who died with the dysentery, aged about
  twenty-three years; also, Rebekah, who is married to Rev. John B. PATTERSON,
  lives happily and is raising a fine family. But I have had no issue by my
  present wife nor has any uneasiness arisen in consequence of it. Nor can it be
  said that any of my children have had stepmothers, being always treated with as
  much tenderness and respect as they could have expected from their own mothers.
  Another instance of my happiness and for which I ought to be very thankful is
  the untarnished morality of my children, and the peace and harmony that has
  always subsisted among them.
  
            "Through all this long life I have been abundantly provided for, have
  enjoyed honor enough unsought by any other means than honestly endeavoring to do
  my duty to my God and my country--great health and much comfort, retaining my
  natural powers with little diminution until about five or six years past, since
  when I feel sensibly the advances of age. But I hope that goodness and mercy
  which, have followed me through life will not forsake me when gray hairs
  appear, but continue to conduct me down to death, after which, through the
  merits of our Lord Jesus Christ alone and the mercy of God our Savior, I hope
  to obtain eternal rest and happiness
            Wm. MONTGOMERY
  
            "Note this year the woolen factory at Danville established under my
  care."
  
      Gen. Daniel MONTGOMERY was the third son of the above Gen. William
  MONTGOMERY, and was fifteen years old when his father brought his family to
  Danville to reside. When only twenty-five years old Daniel opened, under the
  guidance and assistance of his father, the first store in Danville. Soon he was
  the trusted merchant and factor of a wide circle of patrons. This first store
  building was where the Montour House now stands. November 27, 1791, Daniel
  MONTGOMERY married Miss Christiana STRAWBRIDGE. The next year he laid out the
  town of Danville--the part east of Mill Street. The new town received its
  baptismal name from abbreviating his Christian name through the partiality of
  his customers. From this time until his death he was the most prominent man in
  this part of the State; elected to the Legislature in 1800, at once taking his
  father's place as a trusted leader in public enterprises and politics of his
  district. By leading men throughout the State he was recognized as a man of
  great influence in wisely shaping public affairs. During his actual political
  life of many years he carried on his extensive mercantile establishment,
  purchased and owned large tracts of land. In 1805 he was lieutenant-colonel in
  the Eighty-first Pennsylvania Militia. He was appointed major-general of the
  Ninth Division, July 27, 1809. He was the chief promoter in the building of
  turnpike roads in this portion of the State. Elected to Congress in 1807 as a
  Democrat, he served out his term ably and acceptably and declined a
  re-election. He worked efficiently for the division of Northumberland county
  and the erection of Columbia and Union Counties; Danville was made the county
  seat of Columbia County and the father and son donated the land for the county
  buildings, and contributed largely in money toward their erection. In 1823,
  though strongly urged by prominent men all over the State, he declined to stand
  for the office of governor. In 1828 he was appointed one of the canal
  commissioners, and while in this office the great internal State improvements
  were inaugurated, and among others the North Branch Canal was located and well
  advanced toward completion. He was a large stockholder and a strong promoter of
  the Danville Bridge Company, completing the bridge in 1829. He originated the
  project of the Danville & Pottsville Railroad and was first president. Amid
  these varied positions of trust, great labor and responsibility he, like his
  father, was a noted farmer. Gen. Daniel MONTGOMERY died at his residence in
  Danville, Friday, December 30, 1831, aged sixty-six years. The old family Bible
  bears the following record of his children: Margaret, born October 18, 1792,
  died April 1, 1845, unmarried; Isabella, born August 1, 1794, died October 11,
  1813, unmarried; Mary, born July 26, 1796, died September 2, 1797; Thomas, born
  July 19, 1798; died February 22, 1800; Hannah, born October 16, 1800, married to
  J. C. BOYD, May 1820; William, born January 11, 1803, died January 23, 1873,
  aged seventy, bachelor; Polly, born February 6, 1805, married to Dr. W. H.
  MAGILL, May 1, 1828 (they have two sons and three daughters); Christina, born
  March 1, 1809, died May, 26, 1836, unmarried; Daniel Strawbridge, born July 2,
  1811, died March 26, 1839.
  
      Philip MAUS was born in Prussia, 1731. In company with his parents he came
  to Philadelphia in 1741, being then ten years old. He attended school and soon
  he could speak and write both English and German fluently. In 1750 he was
  apprenticed to the trade of manufacturing stockings, a circumstance that
  enabled him in the times of the Revolution to greatly aid and benefit the
  country. Within five years after he commenced to learn his trade he established
  himself in the business, conducting it with great success for the next twenty
  years, when the troubles with the mother country suspended operations. His
  brothers were Fredrick, Charles and Mathew. The latter became a prominent
  surgeon in the war and was with Gen. MONTGOMERY in his expedition into Canada,
  and when MONTGOMERY fell before Quebec he aided Col. BURR in carrying away his
  body. Dr. MAUS served through the entire war of independence.
  
      Phillip MAUS married Frances HEAP, a native of England, a most estimable
  wife, mother and friend. When his business furnished him the capital he
  invested in the purchase of 600 acres of land. the patents from Thomas and John
  Penn are dated April 3, 1769, and are among the earliest in what is now Montour
  County. The proprietaries reserved a perpetual quit rent of two pence per acre,
  which was paid until the commonwealth compensated the Penns and became the
  proprietor of the lands. The tract of land lay in the rich and fertile valleys
  of Valley Township. At the time of the purchase it laid on the outer fringe of
  the settlements, and hence no improvements were made on the property until
  after the Revolution. But as soon as peace and safety permitted, Mr. MAUS
  brought his family to this place and for more than thirty years it was his
  home. The children of this happy union were George, born 1759; Elizabeth, 1761;
  Phillip, 1763; Susan, 1765; Samuel, 1767; Lewis 1773; Charles, 1775; Joseph,
  1777; Jacob 1781. During the Revolution Mr. MAUS was an active and earnest
  patriot. He formed the intimate acquaintance, which extended to the end of
  their days, of Benjamin Franklin and Robert Morris. Mr. MAUS invested very
  largely of his ample fortune in furnishing clothing to the army, took his pay
  in continental money, and of this money, when it became valueless, he had
  several thousand dollars on hand. Baskets full of this old currency may yet be
  found in the possession of Phillip F. MAUS. What would a modern army contractor
  think if he was to hear this story?
      Here is a letter that now possesses a historical interest:
  
            Philadelphia, 9 Octo, 1776.
            Mr. Samuel UPDEGRAPH, Sir: - By the bearer, Mr. Joseph KERR, I send
  you the ballance of the price of 8 doz pairs of buckskin breeches I bought of
  you, having paid you L9 [9 pounds] in advance, the ballance being L143 3s [143
  pounds 3 shillings] which he will pay you on delivering him the goods. If you
  have any more to dispose of he will contract with you for them, and I shall be
  glad if you and him an agree.
            Your humble servant,
            Philip MAUS
  
      Leather breeches, moccasins and hunting shirts of the same were the
  clothing of some of the grandfathers of many of our most aristocratic and
  exclusive people of fashion and wealth of the present day. Could the
  rehabilitated form of one of these appear in his buckskin jerkin well soiled in
  the service of camp and field and, unkempt and unwashed, appear in some of our
  modern parlors unannounced, would not the cooing Charles Augustus and Floritina
  faint dead away?
  
      At the close of the war his fortune was so reduced, as he had expended his
  good gold for materials to manufacture clothing for the army and took his pay
  in what was in the end valueless Continental money, that he turned his
  attention to his land in this county, and came here in 1782. He found the
  infant settlement of Danville, which had then been founded by Daniel MONTGOMERY
  and his brother, William consisting of a few log cabins and half a dozen
  families, nearly all from the southeastern portion of the State and the western
  part of New Jersey. His lands, when he then looked upon them, presented a mass
  of verdue and deep, tangled wild woods, stretching along the northern base of
  Montour's Ridge, with the Mahoning flowing through them. He brought with him
  from Philadelphia two carpenters, and his son Phillip and his own willing hands
  were the means at hand to clear away the great forest and make his beautiful
  farm. He erected the first cabin in Valley Township. Its site was on the right
  bank of the stream nearly half a mile from the present stone mill. He
  contracted the clearing of other parts of his land, but then the Indian
  troubles commenced, and the people in these unprotected parts had to flee to
  Northumberland for safety. Before leaving the place everything they could not
  carry away, such as implements, tools, etc., was carefully buried and secreted
  from the Indians. The place was then rented to Peter BLUE and James SUTPHEL,
  the bargain being that the lessees were to return and occupy the lands as soon
  as it would be safe to do so. Mr. MAUS and family remained in Northumberland
  only a brief time and then proceeded to Lebanon, where he remained one year;
  then came back to the Mahoning settlement.
  
      Phillip F. MAUS, now living in Mausdale, in this county, is the son of
  Joseph and Sally MONTGOMERY MAUS and is the grandson of Phillip MAUS, one of
  the first settlers in what is now Valley Township and of whom there is an
  extended sketch in the chapter entitled "Some of the Early Families." the
  direct line of descent to young Phillip Eugene MAUS, now of Mausdale, is as
  follows: Philip MAUS, his son Joseph, then Joseph's son Phillip F. and then
  Phillip F.'s son Phillip E. MAUS. Joseph MAUS Was born in Philadelphia,
  October, 1777, and came to this county with his parents when about eight years
  old. He married in 1808 Sallie, daughter of John MONTGOMERY, of Paradise farm.
  The issue of this marriage were Phillip F., born September 27, 1810, and John
  M., born in 1812. Joseph MAUS died July 26, 1867. Sallie MONTGOMERY MAUS died
  May 20, 1872. John M. married Rebecca GRAY, who was born in 1812 and married in
  1833. Phillip F. MAUS married Sarah GALLAHER, of Lycoming County, in May, 1838.
  Of this marriage there were six children--four boys and two girls--all of whom
  except Phillip E. died in infancy. Mrs. Sarah GALLAHER MAUS was a daughter of
  William and Margaret GALLAHER, who were early settlers in what is now Lycoming
  county. They were of Scotch-Irish descent. The history of the MAUS family
  elsewhere in this book is very nearly a complete history of the county from its
  first settlement to date.
  
      John C. GULICS was born in Mahoning Township, December 1, 1807, the son of
  John and Mary (GEARHART) GULICS, natives of New Jersey. Grandfather Jacob
  GEARHART was a Revolutionary soldier, attaining the rank of captain, and was
  long in the service under Gen. Washington. John and Mary GULICS had five
  children, of whom one only is now living.
  
      Nathaniel and Sarah (BOND) WILSON were of the early settlers in Columbia
  County, Liberty Township. They were natives of Pennsylvania, of Scotch-Irish
  descent. Nathaniel was a soldier in the war of 1812-15. Descendants of the
  BONDs and WILSONs are now citizens of Montour County. One grandson, James
  WILSON is a clerk in a store in Danville.
  
      Samuel KIRKHAM--how that name brings up the writer's school days and
  "parsing grammar." Pennsylvania must have bred great grammarians--Lindley
  MURRAY was a native of York County, and Mr. KIRKHAM was a teacher in the
  Danville school in 1819-21. It is said what little grammar Mr. Lincoln ever
  knew he got from KIRKHAM's grammar.
  
      Daniel FRAZER came here in 1790. He purchased a farm of John FRAZER--100
  acres. Here he resided thirty-eight years, or until his death. All the south
  part of his farm is now in the corporate limits of Danville. He was a most
  estimable farmer and his death was mourned by a wide circle of friends. In 1824
  he built his stone residence which is still standing in good repair.
  
      Ellis HUGHES came here a school-teacher, and for some time taught in the
  schoolhouse a short distance from where the Montour House now stands. He was
  appointed register and recorder by the governor, and served to the public's
  entire satisfaction. He died in 1850.
  
      William HARTMAN came to Danville in 1814, a chairmaker--at that time a very
  convenient kind of workman to have in a community where three legged stools were
  chiefly the seats of honor. He died in 1851.
  
      November 24, 1784, is the date of the oldest record extant containing a
  partial list of those who were first here. It was a subscription paper, drawn
  by Gen. William MONTGOMERY's hand, and entitled "Preaching Subscription." It
  was not especially sectarian and as all men in those days were deeply religious
  in faith and pined for the expounding of God's word, it is quite probable that
  the list contained nearly every head of a family then in the county, who was
  able to subscribe toward the desired fund. It is an interesting relic. To their
  descendants it is kind of "Declaration of Independence signers," and it is due
  their memories that their histories, so far as can be now obtainable, be
  gathered up. The list is here given in full, and following it is such an
  account of their descendants as the writer has been enabled to gather from some
  of our oldest citizens.
      Following is the document and the amount respectively subscribed:
  
            We, the subscribers, promised to pay the several sums annexed to our
  names into the hands of such persons as shall be named by a majority of us to
  receive and collect the same, to be set apart as a fund for the encouragement
  and promoting the preaching of the Gospel among us at the settlement of
  Mahoning.
            Done this twenty-fourth day of November, 1784.
  
            Jno. EMMITT 7s 6d
            Jas. EMMITT 7s 6d
            Charlie McCLAHAN 7s 6d
            David SUBINGALL L1
            Peter BLEW 7s 6d
            Jno. WILSON 7s 6d
            Jos. BARRY 7s 6d
            Jno. IRWIN 15s
            David CARR 7s 6d
            Jacob CARR 7s 6d
            Gilbert VOORHES 7s 6d
            Wm. MONTGOMERY, Jr. L3
            James HENRY 15s
            William GRAY 7s 6d
            Asahel FOWLER 7s 6d
            Benjamin FOWLER 17s 6d
            Robert HENRY L1 2s 6d
            James GRIMES 15s 0d
            Martin TODD 5s 0d
            Peter MELICK 7s 6d
            Wm. MONTGOMERY L3 0s 0d
            John EVART L1 0s 0d
            John BLACK L1 0s 0d
            Daniel KELLY 15s 0d
            Peter RAMBO L1 0s 0d
            John EMMET 15s 0d
            John CLARK L1 0s 0d
            Andrew COCHRAN L1 10s 0d
            Alex. McMULLAN 15s 0d
            Thomas GILES 7s 6d
            Robert GILES 7s 6d
            William LEMAR 15s 0d
            William MOORLAND L1 2s 6d
            John WHEELER 15s 0d
            Levi WHEELER 7s 6d
            Garret VANCAMP 7s 6d
            John OGDEN 7s 6d
            Lemuel WHEELER 10s 0d
            David GOODMAN L1 2s 6d
            Joseph ROSBERRY, Jr. L1 10s 0d
  
      In those days distance had but small control in determining where the good
  people would attend divine service. And it is highly probable that the
  subscribers above named included families from every settlement in the county.
  
      Peter BLEW (BLUE) lived in Valley Township, a good man and a much esteemed
  neighbor among his farmer neighbors. One of his grandsons now resides in
  Campbelltown.
  
      John WILSON, we are told, was a Quaker. John, Thomas and William lived many
  years in Frosty Valley, on the Black road. One of the grandsons now lives there.
  John WILSON married John MAUS's daughter.
  
      David and Jacob CARR settled just across the river from Danville. One of
  Jacob's sons now resides there.
  
      It is said that some of the descendants of peter MELICK live on Fishing
  Creek.
  
      John EVART lived in Frosty Valley. His son John lived and died on the old
  home place. There is one daughter surviving, living at Danville.
  
      John BLACK lived in Derry Township, where he died many years ago.
  
      John EMMET lived in Frosty Valley. He removed to Bloomsburg. It is told
  that he was one of the believers in the wild story that the Indians before they
  left these parts buried vast treasures of gold in this hill. There was a further
  wild superstition that those who attempted to dig and find the hidden treasure
  would be stricken by the spell of the dusky ghosts, and would flee away in
  terror and pine away and die. A man named RUNYON, it was gravely related, went
  there to dig after EMMET had fled and left his digging implements. He too fled
  in terror before the spooks and went off and died.
  
      William CLARK, in company with his brother John, kept CLARK's tavern, which
  stood where BROWN's bookstore now is. The building was burned down in 1835 or
  1836. Tom CLARK, son of William, lived here, and died aged eighty years.
  Several of the grandchildren of William CLARK are now here.
  
      Andrew COCHRAN died many years ago. His son Preston was reared in this
  county and moved away and died.
  
      William CROWLE was a stone-mason and helped build the old still.
  
      Thomas GASKINS and family were among the earliest settlers here. He had six
  children: John, Jonathan, Thomas, Mrs. Polly McMULLIN, Mrs. Betsy FORSYTH and
  Rachel (unmarried). Of these John was born her in 1775 and died in 1856. His
  son, William G. GASKINS, was born in 1817, and is now a resident of Danville.
  
      The property now belonging to the Danville Insane Asylum was the house of
  the GULICS family. There was a large family of children. Of these, Catharine
  GULICS married John GASKINS, whose descendants are now residents of Danville.
  
      John DEEN, Sr., the first of the name in the limits of this county, came
  here in 1790. He was born in Philadelphia December 22, 1783. When he was an
  infant his father was lost at sea--a seafaring man in command of a vessel. His
  mother, Eleanor (FRAZIER) DEEN, was a native of Scotland. Some of the FRAZIERs
  were of the earliest settlers in this portion of the State. John came to this
  county with his uncle in his seventh year. The widow married John WILSON. She
  died in Danville, October 1, 1827, in her sixty-sixth year, and was buried in
  the old Presbyterian cemetery. Here John lived from the time he came, with his
  uncle, Daniel FRAZIER, whose log house was on the hill side a little east of
  Bloom Street, near the present site of the Reformed Church, his farm covering
  the ground that is now the Fourth Ward. Here, at the short-termed subscription
  schools, John acquired what education he possessed. In 1796 he was apprenticed
  to Mr. HENDRICKSON to learn blacksmithing. In 1809 he married Miss Mary FLACK,
  daughter of Hugh and Susan FLACK, who was born near Washingtonville in April,
  1785. The FLACKS were a large family, and their descendants are intermarried
  with many of the pioneer families. The father on the maternal side of the
  FLACKs was McBRIDE, another of the very early settlers in what is now Montour
  County. McBRIDE settled on a farm at what is now White Hall.
  
      In 1809 Mr. DEEN and wife came to Danville. The town was then a mere hamlet
  of log buildings scattered over the territory west of what is now Church Street
  and south of the canal. He occupied the corner now occupied by G. M. SHOOP,
  where he lived until 1814. Here he had his smithey-shop; here three of his
  children were born, viz.: Thomas, who died at the age of five years, John and
  Julia Ann. He then purchased ground on the opposite side of the street of
  Daniel MONTGOMERY. Here he erected what is now the eastern end of the frame
  house now owned by his eldest daughter, Miss Julia Ann BOWYER. Here he lived
  the remainder of his life.
  
      The work in a blacksmith shop in those days was very different from that of
  to-day---but very little machinery; everything had to be hammered out on the
  anvil, and charcoal was the only fuel used. Mr. DEEN's account books are still
  in the possession of the family and here are recorded business transactions
  dating back to so long a period as now to possess much historical interest. As
  an instance, between 1820 and 1830 here are some of the prices for his work:
  "Setting pair horseshoes, 12 1/2 cents; pair steel-toes shoes, 58 cents; toeing
  old shoes, 12 1/2 cents: pair of shoes (not toes) 46 1/2 cents; mending
  bridle-bit, 12 1/2 cents; 12 screws, 59 cents; laying a hammer with steel (both
  ends) 46 1/2 cents; ironing a two-horse wagon, $15; laying an ax with cast
  steel, 70 cents." Bar iron at that time was worth $100 to $120 per ton. At this
  time buckwheat was selling at 30 cents to 35 cents a bushel. In 1824 wheat sold
  for $1.87 1@; 11 yards blankets, $10.31; potatoes, 12 1/2 cents; muslin, 14
  cents; a day's plowing, with two horses, $1.40. Soon after making his residence
  here he obtained a interest in a fishery located above the mouth of Mahoning
  Creek, and also one in Culp's Eddy, above. The fish caught here at that time
  were many and of the best quality, shad weighing as high as seven pounds, and
  salmon weighing fifteen pounds and rock-fish thirty pounds. The best fish sold
  at 6 and 7 cents a pound. The women made the twine of which the nets were made,
  as they then also made the clothes worn by men and women. The spinning-wheel and
  the loom were then to be heard in almost every house. The first woolen factory
  was erected in Danville more than fifty years ago. It was on Mahoning Creek, at
  the Northumberland street crossing. This is wandering slightly from the subject
  of this sketch, but at the same time it is suggested by gleanings from Mr.
  DEEN's old account book. His close industry and economy brought him prosperity,
  and in 1820 he purchased of Gen. MONTGOMERY the land running eastward along the
  south side of Market Street, paying $100 per acre for it. This was stony
  ground, not fit for cultivation. It was once a great place to pick
  blackberries. It has long been covered with the fine improvements we now see
  there. In 1826, in addition to his business of farming and his large blacksmith
  shop, he purchased of the patentee the right to manufacture threshing machines
  and opened a factory. These were evidently good machines and well made, as Mr.
  A. J. STILL, grandson of Mr. DEEN, informs the writer that he saw one of them
  in 1868 and it was still fit for service. Mr. DEEN had contracts on the canal,
  then being constructed, as well as on the river bridge. When the canal was
  opened he owned and ran a boat thereon in the coal trade. At an age when
  ordinary men retire largely from active business life, he built a tannery on
  the river near Church Street. January 5, 1852, his faithful helpmeet departed
  this life. After a long and useful life, widely esteemed, and beloved by a
  great circle of family and friends, he breathed his last July 16, 1864, leaving
  behind seven children. His oldest son, John, married Jane HUTTON and died in
  1874; four of his children are still living. Julia Ann, aged seventy-three
  years, is the wife of John BOWYER. James married Margaret SANDERS; Jane married
  Thomas BRANDON; Hannah married Rev. Amos B. STILL, and has but one son living,
  A. Judson; and Perry, the youngest son, married Mary Jane RITCHIE; after her
  death he married Jane FULLMAR. Susan, the youngest of the family, married Isaac
  TYLER; she died in 1865; three of her children are now living.
  
      Frequent mention of the FRAZERS (sometimes spelled FRAZIER) occurs in other
  parts of this work. Daniel FRAZER was born May 2, 1755, and married Sarah WILSON
  in 1772. She died in 1775; he was again married. His second wife was Isabella
  WATSON, whom he married on the sixth day of February, 1777. He died in Danville
  on March 26, 1828. His children were Charles, Emma, Margaret, James, Alexander,
  Sarah, Jane, William, Christiana M., Agnes, Daniel and Thomas, all of whom are
  dead, except Christiana, who married Enos MILLER, who died in 1870. His
  descendants reside in Montour County, New York, and Michigan. He came to this
  place about 1790 and purchased of John FRAZER 100 acres of land in the
  southwest part of his 284-acre tract. On this land he resided thirty-eight
  years, until his death in the seventy-third year of his age. He was an honest
  and industrious farmer, enjoying the respect and confidence of his fellow
  citizens. For a long time he resided at the base of the hill, near the site of
  an old Indian trading post, and a very short distance north of the spring. In
  1824 he built the substantial stone residence which is still standing. All the
  southern portion of his farm is now within the corporate limits in Danville.