Local History: Chapters XX - XXVI: TOWNSHIP HISTORIES. Bell's History of Northumberland Co PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Tony Rebuck Tar2@psu.edu USGENWEB NOTICE: Printing this file by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. Transcribed from Bell's History of Northumberland County Pennsylvania Chapter XX. TURBUT TOWNSHIP ERECTION AND ORIGINAL BOUNDARIES - SUBDIVISION AND PRESENT AREA - PIONEERS - MILLS - CHURCHES -SCHOOLS -CEMETERIES. THE present area of Turbut township is but a small fraction of the territory comprised within its limits more than a century ago. It was one of the original subdivisions of the county, and was erected on the 9th of April, 1772, at the first court of private sessions in Northumberland county, with the following boundaries:- Beginning on the east side of Susquehanna at Fort Augusta; thence up the easterly side of the Northeast Branch to the old line formerly run for a division between Berks and Northampton counties; thence by the same line northwest to the top of Muncy Hill; thence along the top of the same westerly to the West Branch of Susquehanna, and crossing the same to the west side, and down the same to the junction of the branches, and crossing Susquehanna to the place of beginning so as to include the forks and island. These limits comprised all of Northumberland and Montour counties north of the Susquehanna, with a large part of Columbia. It is doubtful, however, whether "the old line formerly run for a division between Berks and Northampton counties" was ever regarded practically as the eastern boundary of Turbut. At February sessions, 1775, a petition was presented for the consideration of the county court of quarter sessions, setting forth that Turbut was "too extensive for the management of one constable, collector, or assistant assessor," whereupon a division was ordered by a line - Beginning opposite the month of Chillisquaque creek on the West Branch of Susquehanna, and crossing the same to the mouth of Chillisquaque creek, and up the south side of the said creek to the forks, thence up the east branch of the said Chillisquaque creek to the head thereof, thence by an east line to Fishing creek. The territory between this line and the North Branch, bounded on the east by Fishing creek and on the west by the West Branch, received the name of Mahoning township. This deprived Turbut of nearly half its former territory, but it still retained its position as the most northerly township within the present limits of Northumberland county. At May sessions, 1786, Derry was formed from that part of its remaining area east of the road END OF PAGE 692 leading "from Muncy Hill to Montgomery's mill" (Danville); and at the same term of court it was further curtailed by the erection of Chillisquaque, with Limestone ridge as the line of division. By the act erecting Columbia county (March 22, 1813), Turbut, with the remaining part of Northumberland north of Montour's ridge, was assigned to the new county, of which it remained a part until February 21, l815. It was then reannexed to Northumberland, but on the 22d of January, 1816, the present line of Northumberland and Montour was established, again depriving Turbut of a portion of its territory on the east. The division of Turbut was first agitated in 1836. As reduced by the act of 1816 it had an area of about one hundred square miles, with an extreme length of thirteen miles from north to south and an average width of eight miles; and in 1836 the population is represented as having been five or six thousand, with eight or nine hundred voters. It was suggested that the line of division should begin at the mouth of Warrior run and extend in a general easterly direction, but the viewers appointed by the court returned an unfavorable report. In November, 1838, division was again petitioned for by an east and west line; as reasons for this it was urged that the township sustained twenty-six public schools, "which require more attention than any six directors are willing to bestow upon them without a compensation;" and that important public roads traversed its territory in every direction, for which the care of the present number of supervisors was entirely inadequate. The effort was again unsuccessful, but the agitation was resumed in November, 1842, and reached the desired consummation at April sessions, 1843, when William Nesbit and Frederick Lazarus, commissioners to whom the matter was referred, reported favorably to the formation of two additional townships from that part of Turbut north of the following described line:- Beginning at a point on the West Branch of the Susquehanna eighteen perches north of the north line of the farm of George Good; thence south eighty-seven and a half degrees east sixteen hundred five perches to a point on the Derry road near the house of ___ ; thence along said road north sixty-eight degrees east four hundred four perches to the line of Columbia county. The two new townships received the respective names of Delaware and Lewis; the division was confirmed, April 15, 1843, thus establishing the present northern boundary of Turbut. In 1817 Milton was incorporated from its area, and the enlargement of that borough in 1890 reduced the township to its present limits. It is now one of the smallest subdivisions of the county. PIONEERS. After the formation of Chillisquaque and Derry townships Turbut included, in addition to its present area, the townships of Delaware and Lewis and a portion of Montour county (Limestone township); the taxable inhabitants of this territory in 1787 were as follows: James Anderson, Robert Allen, William Boyd, END OF PAGE 693 William Brown, Jacob Bruner, Daniel Backus, Samuel Blair, Thomas Barr, James Blaine, James Biggars, Mathew Bradley. Peter Brugler, Matthew Curry, Silas Cook, Robert Carrigan, Robert Cairns, Samuel Clark, John Covert, Charles Clark, Titus Doane, Stephen Drake, Thomas DeArmond, John DeArmond, Philip Davis, William Davis, Neal Davis, John Durham, John Eason, Robert Eason, James Espy, Barnabas Farran, John Fulkerson, John Fitzsimmons, William Fitzsimmons, James Fitzsimmons, Robert Fitzsimmons, John Follmer, James Ferguson, George Follmer, Jacob Follmer, Michael Follmer, Frederick Follmer, Alexander Fullerton, Michael Freeland, Alexander Guffy, William Gilmore, Thomas Gilniore, Ephraim Garrison, John Gibbons. Samuel Gold, John Gilliland, Alexander Gibson, William Howell, James Hays, George Hammond, Archibald Hume, Hugh Hamilton, William Hutchison, Joseph Hutchison, Aaron Hemrod, James Hammond, James Harrison, David Hammond, George Hood, John Hood, David Ireland, Peter Jones, Robert Kennedy, John Kennedy, John Kerr, Martin Kieffer, Nathaniel Landon, Jacob Lang, Cornelius Low, John Livingston, William Layton. Thomas Love, John Lytle, Gaun McConnell, Neal McCoy, Charles McClung, James McClung, Matthew McClung, William McCormick, James McAfee, John McGowan, Samuel McGhee, George McGhee, John Maxwell, Alba McMath, Robert Miles, William Miles, James Mecklem, John Montgomery, John Montgomery, Jr., Robert Montgomery, Barney Murray, Abigail Moodie, William McWilliams, William McKnight, John McKnight, Felix McCloskey, Michael Minegar, John Nelson, James Patton, Adam Prunner, Daniel Perrine, Thomas Phillips, Samuel Pollock, William Russell, Andrew Russell, Edward Ryan, John Ryan, Robert Rhea, Robert Smith, Catherine Swisher, John Scott, John Smith, Ralph Swartwout, Jacob Smith, Jacob Shipman, Matthew Smith, Thomas Stadden, Philip Schultz, Garret Sickles, John Shearer, Henry Sterritt, William Shaw, Thomas Toner, John Tweed, Robert Taggart, Frederick Taylor, William Taylor, Daniel Vincent, Richard Vanderhoof, Garret Vanreper, John Vanreper, John Vandegrift, Peter Vandeevnor, John Vandyke, James Watt, John Watt, John Wood, John W. Wilson, John Wilson, John White, William Wykoff, Bernard Winteringer, Isaac Williams, James Wilson, Samuel Wilson, Fleming Wilson, Samuel Wilson, James Welsh. Robert Carrigan was assessed with one servant; David Ireland, with one negro; William Shaw with one servant and one negro woman; Garret Vanreper, with one negro. MILLS. Hawkins Boone erected the first mill in the township; it stood on Muddy run, and was built prior to the year 1779, when the proprietor lost his life in an attempt to relieve Fort Freeland with a company of rangers under his command, and his property was destroyed. In 1840 Abraham and Isaac Straub removed their extensive grain and END OF PAGE 694 lumber mills from the island opposite Milton to the mouth of Muddy run. They were the inventors of a reaction water-wheel, the first in the United States, and their operations were quite extensive. Their water power was derived from the river, dams having been constructed on both sides of the island; but the erection of the Lewisburg dam interfered with these arrangements, and hence the selection of a new location at the mouth of Muddy run. Chamberlin & Bisel, Yager & Bisel, John Ott, and W. B. Kemerer successively continued the business; on the 28th of March, 1874, the mill was burned, involving a loss of twenty thousand dollars. It was immediately replaced by the present building, a substantial frame structure. William Follmer erected a mill on Limestone run in the southeastern part of the township and operated it for several years; it was then removed to Pottsgrove, and subsequently destroyed by fire. CHURCHES. Follmer's Evangelical Lutheran Church derives the name by which it is popularly and generally known from the Follmer family, by whom it was founded. The following extract is taken from the will of Michael Follmer, dated October 7, 1793: "Fifteen pounds to the Dutch Lutheran church, and ten pounds toward the building of a school house, and ten pounds shall be disposed of toward the teaching of the poor children which may belong to the church above mentioned, which will be built in the township of Turbut." That it was accordingly built is sufficiently evidenced by the following extract from a deed from Conrad Cook to John Follmer, dated April 13, 1799: "Conrad Cook and John Follmer by their article of agreement [dated August 28, 1796], did agree that agreeably to the will of Michael Follmer, deceased, two acres of ground should be given for the use of the Lutheran congregation, whereon the Lutheran meeting house now stands, agreeably to marks and bounds made in the survey by William Davis." This first church building was a one-story log structure, with galleries to which an outside stairway ascended. It was replaced in 1859-60 by the present substantial two-story brick building. Rev. J. P. F. Kramer was pastor in 1803, and on the 16th of October in that year the following list of communicants, the earliest extant, appears in the records: Conrad Menges and wife, William Gauger, Catherine Follmer, Bernard Stein, John Stein, Henry Stein, Peter Menges, Peter Derr, Conrad Menges and wife, Jacob Menges, Tobias Schutz, Michael Schmidt and wife, Eva Stahl, Catherine Stahl, John Schmidt, Jacob Schmidt, Peter Fogelman, Catherine Follmer, Elizabeth Schniedler, Peter Gerlacher, John Hauer, Jacob Lilly and wife, Barbara Hauer, Peter Lilly, John Schuck, Elizabeth (Follmer) Schuck, Christian Zerbe and wife, Peter Schwartz and wife, Elizabeth Muller, Elizabeth (Fogelman) Muller, and Anna Fogelman. Twenty-four persons were confirmed on that occasion. END OF PAGE 695 There is a hiatus in the records from 1803 to 1837; the succession of pastors since the latter date has been as follows Rev. C. Stoever, 1836-41; S. R. Boyer, 1846-51; B. F. Alleman 1851-52, Jesse Wyncoff, 1852-54; John Williams, 1856-58; C. C. Culler, 1858-60; Augustus Babb, 1860-62; A. B. Home, 1863-65; E. J. Wolf, D. D 1865-6-; George Sill, 1869-70; J. B. Berguer, 1870-76; Conrad Huber 1876-82; J. A. Adams, 1883-88, and G. E. Faber, the present incumbent, who assumed charge in 1889. Paradise Reformed Church is situated about two miles southeast of Turbutville, on the Washingtonville and Milton road. Religious services were held in this vicinity as early as 1804 by Rev. John W. Ingold, who made occasional visits through this region. The place of worship was a barn in the summer and a dwelling house in the winter. On the 27th of August, 1808, a congregational meeting was held at which a constitution was adopted and a resolution passed to erect a church edifice on ground already purchased from John Christ for that purpose. The land, two acres, had been bought by John Stahl, Michael Koons, and John Dieffenbacher for the sum of fifteen pounds. A large one-story log building was at once erected, which was so arranged as to serve for both church and school house, by means of a sliding partition which was closed for school purposes and opened for church services. The building was completed in 1809, at a cost of thirty- seven pounds and eighteen shillings. The purchasers of the land were made first trustees of both church and school. This building is still standing near the church and is used as a sexton's house; during its early history it was known as Eshbach's school house. In 1810 Rev. Jacob Dieffenbach became pastor and served the congregation until 1815, when he was succeeded by Rev. Justus Henry Fries. He preached in the old log school house every fourth Sabbath until 1822, during which time he baptized one hundred five children and confirmed seventy-one persons. In 1824 the brick church building, now owned by the Lutherans and situated near the Reformed house of worship, was erected through the united efforts of the Reformed and Lutheran people. The most active members at this time were Andrew Cashner, George and Peter Krouse, Daniel Frymire, and Peter Rishel. The church was dedicated in August, 1824. Rev. Samuel Gutelius became the next pastor and was the first to conduct services in the new church building. In 1861 the Reformed people withdrew from this union and sold their interest in the building to the Lutherans. They at once proceeded, however, to erect a two-story brick edifice not far from the old place of worship. Daniel Eshbach and Levi Linn served as a building committee, and they, with David Follmer, were the elders at that time. The following ministers have served the congregation since 1828: Reverends Henry Wagner, Daniel String, George Wolfe, Lucius Court., A. B. Albright, Henry Mosser, John K. Millett, and George S. Sorber. END OF PAGE 696 Paradise Lutheran Church. This congregation was organized as early as 1824, when its members participated in the erection of their present church edifice, which was dedicated in August of that year. In 1861 the Reformed congregation withdrew from this union and the house of worship became the property of the Lutheran people. It is a brick structure and was repaired in 1873 at a cost of eleven hundred dollars. Reverend Sheets was one of their first pastors. SCHOOLS. Perhaps the earliest provision for education within the present limits of Turbut township was the bequest of Michael Follmer; by will, dated October 7, 1793, he devised ten pounds for the erection of a school house and an equal sum for the education of poor children belonging to the Lutheran church. Parochial schools were conducted in connection with many of the German Lutheran churches of Pennsylvania at that period, and a desire for the establishment of such a school doubtless prompted the donor in his bequest. The public school system was adopted in 1834, and has been creditably sustained, with the exception of one year, to the present time. CEMETERIES. St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery, two miles east of Milton, is the oldest consecrated burial ground in the valley of the West Branch. A small piece of ground was given by the Kieffer family for burial and parochial purposes at an early period in the history of this region, and, owing to the fact that the ground was afterwards consecrated, interments were made here from distant points throughout the central part of the State. May 13,1805, John and Margaret Kieffer finally deeded to the church four acres adjoining the original site. It is impossible to state when the first burial occurred, but no doubt as early as 1787; the earliest inscription is that of Morris Lawrence, who departed this life on the 14th of June, 1792, aged one hundred nine years, six months, and twenty-one days. The Follmer and Paradise Cemeteries are the last resting places of the German families of this part of the county through several generations. Many of the oldest graves are unmarked, and the earliest inscriptions are usually in German and scarcely legible. END OF PAGE 697 and Chapter XX Chapter XXI. UPPER AUGUSTA TOWNSHIP ERECTION OF AUGUSTA TOWNSHIP AND DEVELOPMENT OF ITS SUBSEQUENT BOUNDARIES - FORMATION OF UPPER AND LOWER AUGUSTA - PIONEERS - ROADS AND STREAMS -INDUSTRIES - SCHOOLS - CHURCHES. At the first court of private sessions for Northumberland county, held at Fort Augusta on the 9th of April, 1772, the county was divided into seven townships, of which the second mentioned, Augusta, was thus described:- Beginning at the mouth of Mahantango on the west side of Susquehanna; thence with the county line crossing Susquehanna to the mouth of Mahantango on the east side; thence with the said county line up Mahantango to the Spread Eagle in the forks of said Mahantango; thence with the said county line east- northeast to the old line formerly run for a division between Berks and Northampton counties; thence by the same old line northwest to the East Branch of Susquehanna; thence down the same to Fort Augusta; thence crossing Susquehanna and down the same to the place of beginning. These boundaries included all that part of the present area of Northumberland county south of the North Branch of the Susquehanna river, with considerable territory in Montour and Columbia; and, although "the old line formerly run for a division between Berks and Northampton" is given as the eastern limit of Augusta, the township is represented in 1785 as extending nearly to "the plains of Wyoming," now in Luzerne county. In the meantime (at February sessions, 1775), Mahanoy township was formed from that part of Augusta south of Mahanoy mountain; and at August sessions, 1785, Catawissa was erected from the eastern part of Augusta, with the present eastern line of Upper Augusta, extended to the Line mountain, as the line of division. This reduced Augusta to the territory comprehended within the present limits of Upper and Lower Augusta, Rockefeller, Little Mahanoy, parts of Zerbe and Cameron, and the borough of Sunbury. A resurvey of its southern line by Abraham McKinney and Thomas Woodside was made in 1812 under the direction of the court and approved at Augusta sessions in that year. As this line is still a geographical boundary throughout its entire extent, the courses and distances are herewith given:- Beginning on the west side of the Susquehanna; thence south sixty- eight degrees east eight hundred perches to a pine; thence south eighty degrees east three hundred sixty perches to a chestnut oak; END OF PAGE 698 thence south seventy-five degrees east one hundred seventy perches to a pine; thence east twelve hundred forty perches to a chestnut oak; thence south seventy-five degrees east one hundred perches to a chestnut oak; thence south eighty-five degrees east thirty-one hundred perches to a pine; thence north eighty-eight degrees east three hundred seventy-two perches to a chestnut oak on the Schuylkill County line. This is the present southern boundary of Lower Augusta, Little Mahanoy, and Cameron townships: in 1812 it separated Augusta and Shamokin on the north from Upper and Lower Mahanoy on the south. In November, 1803, the borough of Sunbury was erected into a township from the territory of Augusta, which reduced the latter considerably in population, though not in area. A division was first agitated in 1803, but without passing the initiatory stage; in 1822 it was proposed to form a new township from Shamokin and Augusta; and three years later a division of the latter was suggested by an east and west line striking the river "at the plantation of Isaac Martin, two miles below the borough of Sunbury." The agitation was then suspended, but in 1838 the court was again petitioned to authorize a division. It is stated that the township "extends north and south from Gravel run to below William R. Jones's, a distance of fourteen miles, and varies in width east and west from four to six miles;" the Centre turnpike from Sunbury to its intersection with the Tulpehocken road and that thoroughfare to the township line were suggested as the line of division. In 1839 a petition was presented to the court, evidently from residents of the lower part of the township, who concede that "the upper end is entitled to the name of Augusta on account of the old Fort Augusta," and express their willingness "to take the name of Porter for the lower end." The division of Augusta was finally consummated, April 13, 1846. On the 4th of November, 1846, upon the report of George Brosius, Peter Bixler, and Christian Allen, Limestone Valley school district was transferred from the lower to the upper division; Shamokin island, originally a part of Point township, was transferred to Augusta, April 9, 1838, and passed to the upper division when the township was divided. PIONEERS. The following is a list of taxables in 1788 in Augusta township, which then included the present territory of Upper and Lower Augusta, Rockefeller, Little Mahanoy, Sunbury, and a small part of Cameron and Zerbe: Daniel Aurand, John Alward, John Adlum, John Buyers, Alexander Bell, Paul Baldy, Adam Balt, James Burke, Christian Betz, Peter Betz, Henry Bartsher, Aaron Baker, John Black, James Black, Henry Bucher, John Black, Jacob Conrad, Peter Coldron, Uriah Clark, Robert Coldion, John Clingman, Nicholas Canfleld, Henry Crooks, Duncan Cameron, John Crouse, Henry Douty, William Dewart, John Dome, John Dixon, Bernard Eyregood, John Erter, Lawrence Eichinger, Martin Epley, Jasper Ewing, Leonard Epley, George Fink, George Frick, William Goodhart, Adam Gilger, Alexander END OF PAGE 699 Grant, Jacob Gass, Joseph Gray, Widow Gough, William Gray, Christopher Gettig, Christian Gettig, Henry Goodhart, Widow Geiger, Andrew Grove, Charles Gobin, Thomas Grant, Ludwig Gass, Lewis Giberson, Nicholas Gail, Thomas Giberson, John Gettig, Alexander Grant, John Harrison, George Harrison, George Hall, Widow Hall, Sebastian Hites, John Holloway, Daniel Hurley, Jacob Heberling, Widow Haas, William Hoagland, Samuel Hahn, Stephen Hurst, Thomas Hamilton, Samuel Jones, George Keyser, George Kleber, Dewalt Kuntz, Philip Kennedy, Peter Kerlin, Martin Kendig, Jacob Kiehl, Laurence Keene, John Kiehl, Michael Long, Cornelius Lamerson, Widow Loy, John Long, Joseph Lorentz, John Lyon, Christian Lupp, Henry Lebo, William Lacock, John Ludwig, Samuel Lyon, William Maclay, Samuel Moodie, George McMahan, David Melick, Adam Miller, John Melick, Jacob Mertz, David Mertz, Jacob Mertz, Nicholas Mantz, Samuel McLaughlin, David Mend, William McAdams, Widow McKinney, Robert McBride, Angus McClout, James McWilliams, Frederick Meyer, Leonard Merts, Marcus Ponteous, Jacob Prisinger, Benjamin Patterson, William Plunket, John Rewald, Widow Ray, Bernard Renn, Nicholas Rousher, Conrad Reitzel, Widow Reely, Zachariah Robins, Adam Renn, John Riehm, Jacob Rubenthal, William Reeser, Isaac Richardson, George Schwarm, James Silverwood, Christian Shissler, Peter Smith, Nicholas Shenfield, Augustus Stoner, Samuel Schenck, Casper Snyder, Charles Smith, Joseph Thompson, Henry Vanderslice, Peter Weiser, Jacob Welsh, John Wiggins, John Weitzel, Daniel Witmer, John Wolf, Michael Witel, Martin Withington, John Witmer, Joseph Wallis, William Wilson, John Watson, William Wilson, John Wiggins, Robert Wilson, Jonas Yocum, Jacob Young, John Young, Jacob Yoner, George Zimmerman, Christopher Zimmerman. John Buyers, Thomas Grant, and William Maclay were each assessed with one slave, Martin Kendig with one servant, and Joseph Wallis with three servants. Shamokin island was surveyed for the Proprietaries in 1768 and sold to Mungo Reed in 1784. It is possible that he resided upon it some years prior to the latter date, as his name appears as a taxable in Turbut township prior to 1775. In 1786 he sold the island to Abraham Scott, an officer in the French and Indian war and brother-in-law of Colonel Hunter. Captain Scott died in 1798; his son, Samuel H., owned the Scott farm (now a part of Sunbury borough), and Mary, a daughter, married William Wilson, associate judge of Northumberland county. Edward Lyon was the next resident owner. He was an Englishman, and had been proprietor of cotton mills in Nottinghamshire. He made his first visit to America on the same ship as Rev. Joseph Priestley, accompanied him to Northumberland, and resided in that town several years. He then went back to England, but shortly afterward returned, purchased Shamokin island in 1802, and resided thereon until his death, May 21, 1821. Ten children survived him, one of END OF PAGE 700 whom, Miss Gemelia H. Lyon, of Northumberland, completed her eighty third, year on the 2d of November, 1890. After the death of Mr. Lyon the island experienced frequent changes of Proprietorship until 1877, when it was purchased by John B. Packer, the present owner. ROADS AND STREAMS. A greater number of railroads passes through Upper Augusta than any other township in the county. Parallel with the Susquehanna river are the Northern Central and Philadelphia and Erie; the Sunbury, Hazelton and Wilkesbarre is similarly situated with regard to the North Branch, while the Shamokin Valley and Pottsville and the Philadelphia and Reading traverse the valley of Shamokin creek. The Centre turnpike, the Tulpehocken road, and the main roads leading from Sunbury to Danville and Catawissa are the principal local highways. Shamokin creek is the only interior stream of importance; it receives the waters of Little Shamokin creek in this township. Several smaller streams also unite with both these creeks, while others empty into the North Branch. INDUSTRIES. Geiger's mill was built at an early date by John Haas. It is a stone structure, equipped with two sets of buhrs and a turbine wheel. The building was remodeled in 1850. The first mill on the Shipman site was erected by the Depuys at an early date. The present mill, a three-story brick structure furnished with turbine wheel and steampower, was built in 1883 and is the third at this place. E. M. Eckman is the present proprietor. Gideon Leisenring's tannery, on the Centre turnpike a mile and a half from Sunbury, was described in 1837 as having sixteen vats and a cast-iron bark mill, and an abundant supply of water derived from springs on the premises. It was offered for sale in the Sunbury Advocate at that date, and these particulars have been obtained from the advertisement. SCHOOLS. It is deemed proper in this connection to give such particulars as have been ascertained concerning the schools of Augusta township - the territory now embraced in Upper and Lower Augusta and Rockefeller. Probably the oldest school house within its limits was situated near the Klinesgrove burial ground, in Upper Augusta, while that near the Eckman site in the same township was also established at a very early date. The next in order of priority was situated in the Stone Church district in Rockefeller township; it was a long log building divided into two compartments by a swinging partition fastened to the joists with hinges in such a manner that it could be drawn up with pulleys, and thus the entire interior might be occupied for END OF PAGE 701 religious worship. A German school was taught in one end and an English school in the other; one apartment was also used as the teacher's residence for a time. In 1803 the first school house was built at Fisher's Ferry, Lower Augusta; Samuel Mitchell was the first teacher, and Thomas Snyder and Daniel St. Clair were among the last survivors of the early pupils. When Augusta township first voted upon the question of accepting or rejecting the public school system but eight persons voted in its favor, among whom were John Snyder, Elisha Kline, Peter Oberdorf, Samuel Bloom, Samuel Awl, and Jacob B. Clark. This election occurred in 1834; two years later the system was adopted, but considerable disaffection still prevailed and the collection of the tax was attended with much difficulty. It is said that Joel Yordy was the first collector, and that George Keefer's property was the first to be levied upon for school taxes. The opposition found tangible expression at "an indignation meeting against the free school system in Augusta township," at George Conrad's hotel, when a hickory pole was raised and a banner unfurled hearing the words "Van Buren and no Free Schools." CHURCHES. Upper Augusta Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1850, through the efforts of Rev. Joseph Ross. The original members were John Farnsworth, Samuel Savidge, Silas Wolverton, L. G. Savidge, Robert Farnsworth, Jonathan Hoover, and George Zimmerman. For a time services were held in an old log school house; land was donated by Joseph Savidge and a church edifice, thirty- five by forty feet, was erected thereon at a cost of seven hundred dollars. Subsequently the church was removed to its present location, and in 1884 the congregation was reorganized with the following membership: Charles Wolverton and wife, E. Straub and wife, E. Rebuck and wife, Elizabeth Hollenback, George Zimmerman, and H. G. Kline. Mt. Pleasant Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1852 by Rev. Joseph Ross, in an old log school house which stood on the farm of George Weaver. The original members were H. G. Kline and wife, Joseph Campbell and wife, Herman Campbell and wife, Mrs. Robert Campbell, M. Lawrence and wife, George Barnhart and wife, John Clark and wife, Rebecca Clark, Peter Kobb and wife, Elizabeth Clark, Ella Clark, Charles Bacon and wife, Duncan Myers and wife, David Fisher and wife, Isaac Shipe and wife, Henry Shipe, and H. G. Kline. Services were held in the old log school house until 1860, when land was given by Joseph Campbell for both church and burial ground, and the present church edifice, a one-story frame structure, was erected at a cost of eight hundred dollars. The building was dedicated in May, 1861. Klinesgrove Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1866 or 1867, with a membership which was principally from the Rush township Methodist END OF PAGE 702 Page 703 contains a portrait of A. S. Speece. Page 704 is blank. church and a congregation that had been formed at Augusta school house. Soon after the organization steps were taken for the erection of a church edifice and a building committee, consisting of Isaac Campbell, Charles Eckman, and George Foster, was appointed to superintend the work. A two story brick edifice, sixty by forty feet was erected near Klinesgrove at a cost of nine thousand dollars, and dedicated, October 18, l868. The first trustees were Isaac Campbell, William Depuy, Dr. Isaac Huff, John F. Kline, and William F. Kline. Rev. John Craig was the first pastor. St. Lukes Church of the Evangelical Association was organized in 1889 by the Rev. C. J. Warmcastle, with the following members: Samuel Savidge, S. K. Hile, John Myers, John Bonner, and Samuel G. Savidge. A frame church edifice thirty-five by forty feet was erected soon after the organization was effected. The following pastors have served the society: Reverends C. J. Warmcastle, George Sipe, George Knorr, and W. S. Harris. Chapter XXII. LOWER AUGUSTA TOWNSHIP. TERRITORIAL DEVELOPMENT - TOPOGRAPHY - FISHER'S FERRY - MILLS - SCHOOLS - CHURCHES. The territory embraced in Lower Augusta township was originally a part of Augusta, the formation and boundaries of which have been treated at length in the chapter on Upper Augusta. Its division was consummated on the 13th of April, l846, by a line crossing Little Shamokin creek near its junction with Plum creek. As thus erected, Lower Augusta extended from the Susquehanna river to the line of Shamokin township; on the 4th of November, 1846, the Limestone Valley school district was transferred to Upper Augusta, and on the 7th of May, 1880, the township of Rockefeller was erected, thus reducing Lower Augusta to its present limits. The surface is best described as a succession of ridges and valleys extending east and west; of the valleys the most important are those drained by Boyle's run and Hollowing run. These streams and their tributaries water this section, while their banks afford a level bed for the principal highways of the township. The Sunbury and Harrisburg road traverses the eastern part of its territory and is the principal route of travel north and south. FISHERS FERRY. Fisher's Ferry is situated on the Susquehanna river at the mouth of Hollowing run, and on the line of the Northern Central railway. At an early END OF PAGE 705 period in the history of this section the site was owned by Colonel Auchmuty, who established the ferry and built a hotel and ferry-house. From him the land passed to William R. Jones, in whose possession it continued until 1852; it then became the property of Jonathan Reitz, by whom lots were sold to various persons. The hotel business was abandoned at this time, but in its stead Mr. Reitz started a general store in the old hotel building. In 1850 the citizens erected a one- story frame building in which a subscription school was taught for a time; although no longer used for this purpose, the building still stands and is occasionally used as a place of worship by various denominations. The post-office was established in 1854 with William R. Jones as first postmaster. MILLS. The DeWitt mill site is the oldest in the township; here a mill was built toward the close of the last century by a Mr. Hilterbeil from whom it passed successively to Christian Falk, Henry Masser, and Mr. DeWitt, the present owner. He erected the present mill, a two-story frame structure, in 1840; it is situated six miles from Sunbury near the Harrisburg road, and derives its water- power from Hollowing run. A mill was built on the Boyle's Run road three miles from Fisher's Ferry in 1858 by John Snyder; he operated it until its destruction by fire in 1880. SCHOOLS. The township sustains six schools, there are also six school buildings, three of which are brick and three are frame. Particulars regarding early schools are given in the chapter on Upper Augusta township. CHURCHES. Hollowing Run Presbyterian Church was organized in 1825 by Rev. Samuel Henderson in an old school house at Fisher's Ferry, which served as a place of worship until 1830; a small frame church building was then erected on the Tulpehocken road upon ground presented by William Shipman. Mr. Henderson was the first to clear away the brush and break ground for this building, upon which the work was principally conducted by John Bloom and John Yordy. Rev. William R. Smith succeeded Mr. Henderson and was pastor some years. The church has recently been attached to the Petersburg charge. Miles Run United Brethren Church was organized at the school house of that name in the winter of 1835-36 through the efforts of Peter and Henry Malick. Two years later the present one-story frame church building was erected Boyle's Run Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1840 at an old school house on the Boyle's Run road with fifteen members. The present END OF PAGE 706 one-story frame church building, two and one half miles east of Fisher's Ferry was erected in 1846. This society originally formed part of the Sunbury circuit, but was transferred to the Trevorton circuit in 1865 and in 1880 was attached to the Herndon circuit. The names of the pastors are given in connection with the historical sketches of those churches in this work. Augusta Baptist Church was constituted in 1846 with a membership formerly connected with the society at Sunbury. Largely through the instrumentality of Thomas Snyder, a one-story frame church building was erected on the Boyle's Run road three miles east of Fisher's Ferry. This served as the place of worship until the present one-story brick structure was erected. It was dedicated on the 2d of June, 1872. Rev. W. H. Ellis is the present pastor. Hollowing Run Church, Lutheran and Reformed, is situated six miles south of Sunbury on the Harrisburg road. The corner-stone of the first church edifice, a one-story frame structure, was laid on the 20th of April, 1851. The present brick building was erected in 1880 under the supervision of a building committee composed of John R. Kauffman, Aaron Shipe, John H. Reitz, and H. Swinehart. The Reformed congregation was organized in the winter of 1850-5l by Rev. R. A. Fisher, of Sunbury, from a membership formerly connected with Zion church at Augustaville. Mr. Fisher was pastor until 1854 and has been succeeded by Reverends Daniel Y. Heisler, John W. Steinmetz, William C. Cremer, William Haas, Homer Daniels, Cyrus Reiter, and D. 0. Shoemaker. The Lutheran congregation was organized in 1851 by Rev. G. Neimann, and was also originally composed of a membership formerly connected with Zion church at Augustaville. The following is a list of pastors: Reverends G. Neimann, J. F. Hornberger, J. Hasskarl, J. H. Schmidt, L. G. Eggers, J. Albert, A. Berk, H. T. Clymer, J. W. Early, and A. J. L. Breinig, present incumbent. St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized by Rev. Peter Born, D. D., in 1859 at a grove in the valley of Hollowing run; there were twenty-five constituent members, of whom Isaac Drumheller and Moses Reitz were elected deacons and Samuel Reitz and George Weiser elders. The church building, a one- story frame edifice, was dedicated on the 1st of January, 1860, by Reverends Peter Born, D. D., and H. Zeigler, D. D. Reverends Peter Born, George P. Weaver, A. H. Shertz, Joseph Focht, Mr. Berry, A. K. Zimmerman, Mr. Harsh, Sidney E. Bateman, Mr. Felker, and Cyrus E. Benson have successively served as pastors. END OF PAGE 707 Chapter XXIII. UPPER MAHANOY TOWNSHIP PROCEEDINGS FOR THE ERECTION OF MAHANOY TOWNSHIP - DISINTEGRATION OF ITS TERRITORY - ORGANIZATION OF UPPER MAHANOY - PIONEERS - HOTELS - MILLS - SECRET SOCIETY - SCHOOLS - CHURCHES. UPPER MAHANOY is bounded on the north by Cameron township, on the west by Washington and Jordan, and on the southeast by Schuylkill county. It is separated from Cameron by Line mountain, and drained by Greenbrier and Mahantango creeks and their branches. The surface is mountainous, and the prevailing character of the soil is a red shale. At the organization of the county in 1772 Augusta township included this territory; but it was not long before the growth of population in the Mahanoy region demanded separate organization for that territory. The manner in which this was effected is thus set forth in the minutes of the county court of quarter sessions at February term, 1775:- A petition from a number of the inhabitants of the lower part of Augusta township in the said county was read in court, praying for a division of the said township for the remedying sundry inconveniences arising from its present extensiveness; whereupon it is considered that the same be divided by the following boundaries: Beginning within water mark on the west side of the Susquehanna; thence crossing the same by a direct line to the top of Mahanoy mountain and along the same to the county line; thence by the county line to the Spread Eagle in the forks of Mahantango; thence down the Mahantango to the mouth thereof, thence crossing Susquehanna to the mouth of Mahantango on the west side of Susquehanna, and up the western shore of the same to the place of beginning; all which described part is hereby erected into a separate township, to be henceforth called and known by the name of Mahanoy township. The first township officers of Mahanoy were John Shaffer and Peter Almang, supervisors; Samuel Weiser and John Fisher, overseers of the poor, and Sebastian Brosius, constable. The township was nineteen miles in length from east to west; its shape was triangular, with the greatest dimension upon the southern line. The present area of five townships - Jackson, Washington, Upper Mahanoy, Jordan, and Lower Mahanoy - was embraced within its limits. At August sessions, 1800, as recommended by James Silverwood, Casper Snyder, and John Hays, viewers appointed at April term, 1805, a division of Mahanoy was ordered by a line "beginning at a stone-heap on the top of END OF PAGE 708 Mahanoy mountain on the right or eastwardly side of the main road leading from Sunbury to Harrisburg" and thence a general southerly direction to Mahantango creek. That part of the former territory of Mahanoy at the headwaters of the Mahantango and Greenbrier received the name of Upper Mahanoy, of which the first township officers were Daniel Herb and Nicholas Brosius, supervisors: Michael Diehl and Abraham Brosius, overseers of the poor, and John Latsha, constable. The township has been reduced to its present area by the erection of Jackson in 1836, Jordan in 1852, and Washington in l856. PIONEERS. The following is a list of the taxables of Mahanoy township in 1778, when its territory included all that part of Northumberland county south of the Line mountain: Peter Albert, Jacob Albert, Peter Almang, Martin Bucher, Sebastian Brosius, Nicholas Brosius, Henry Baumgardner, George Bender, Anthony Borwell, Valentine Bridge, Edward Biddle, George Calhoon, George Dennis, Christian Deppen, William Forster, George Forster, Peter Forster, George Forster, Jr., Martin Fisher, Jonathan Fisher, Nicholas Groninger, Nicholas Garrison, John Herter, John Herter, Jr., Moses Haines, Henry Haines, John Heckert, John Hoope, Nicholas Hettrick, Christopher Hettrick, George Heim, George Heim, Jr., Martin Heil, Jacob Heberling, George Jagley, John Knell, Andrew Keterly, Peter Kester, John Kriger, Leonard Kerstetter, Martin Kerstetter, Abraham Kobel, Casper Kobel, Peter Kull, Henry Kobel, Daniel Kobel, Henry Krails, Charles Kauffman, Henry Kahler, James Kaimer, Michael Kunkle, Michael Lenhart, Christian Lower, Philip Lesber, Henry Latsha, Gottlieb Lefler, Henry Lowry, Mary Minium, Q. Minner, Isaac Meyer, Alexander McKee, Dietrich Markey, Mary Miller, Jacob Maier, Widow Maier, Mary Naian, Jacob Ochsenreiter, J. Pheffer, J. Phillips, Richard Peters, Nicholas Pope, George Reiter, Valentine Rebuck, Peter Reidy, George Reiter, John Sherer, Henry Schockingast, Peter Smith, Baltzer Steeley, Nicholas Sicsinger, Peter Smith, Nicholas Scider, Jacob Stough, Yost Schockingast, Fritz Sherer, John Striker, Dietrich Stonebraker, Ludwig Schreyer, Ludwig Schultz, John Shop, Abraham Schreyer, George Stump, Jacob Schneider, Rachel Sherer, Sebastian Spat, Christopher Stump, Christopher Stump, Jr., John Adam Sherer, Nicholas Shaver, Peter Trautman, William Trippe, Martin Thorn, William Thompson, Samuel Weiser, Peter Whitman, John White, Christopher Whitmore, Jonathan Wolf, Jacob Whitman, Frederick Weiser, Jonas Yocum, Jacob Zartman, Henry Zartman. HOTELS. The Line Mountain Hotel was built by Daniel Herb in 1808 and opened as a house of public entertainment in 1812. Among the landlords in the past have been Daniel Herb, Philip Maurer, Samuel Rothermel, and Isaiah Kiehl. END OF PAGE 709 The Stone Tavern, at Leck Kill post-office, was built in 1825 by Peter Beisel, and has ever since been occupied as a hotel. MILLS. The mill now operated at Leck Kill post-office by William Kehres was built by a Mr. Schenckweiler. It is furnished with three sets of buhrs. Samuel Rothermel's mill, on Mahantango creek at the line between Northumberland and Schuylkill counties, was built in 1808 by Daniel Herb. SECRET SOCIETY. Eureka Lodge, No. 260, I.O.O.F., was chartered on the 16th of August, 1847. SCHOOLS. The public school system was adopted on the 4th of June, 1866; the first board of directors was composed of Daniel F. Geist, president; Daniel H. Geist, treasurer; David W. Paul, secretary; William Smith, Isaac Keiffer, and Jacob Klock. The present number of school buildings is six, of which three were purchased from subscription school trustees, one was built in 1867, and two in 1868. CHURCHES. St. Jacob's Church, Lutheran and Reformed, was organized in 1803. Among the most prominent of the early members were Michael Paul, Michael Baum, Christopher Hepler, Henry Klock, John Martz, Anthony Weary, John Maurer, Benjamin Paul, Jacob Schmidt, William Roth, John Wagner, Michael Wagner, Benjamin Loeseher, Leonard Kerstetter, Michael Billman, and John Hepler. Both congregations were incorporated, August 16, 1862; the officers of the Lutheran organization at that time were as follows: trustee, Charles Reiner; elder, Gideon W. Snyder; deacons: Edward Reiner, Frederick Schreffler. The officers of the Reformed organization were as follows: trustee, George Boyer; elders: Jacob Masser, Henry Haas; deacons: Jacob ___, Samuel Diehl. St. John's Church, Lutheran and Reformed, was organized in 1853. The church edifice is a brick structure; the first trustees were Abraham Snyder, Samuel Smith, and Peter Geist. The first officers of the Lutheran congregation were Abraham Snyder, Jr., and Peter Ochsenreiter, elders, and Jacob Schenckweiler, deacon; Peter Ressler was the first Reformed deacon. Among the early members were Abraham Schneider, Daniel Schneider, John Schneider, Jacob Schenckweiler, Simon Schneider, Jacob Beisel, Emanuel Ressler, Peter Geist, Edward Falk, Peter Beisel, and Daniel Beisel. Among the pastors have been Reverends Smith, Boyer, Smith, and Weicksel, Lutheran, and Rudolph Duenger, John Wohlbach, A. S. Stauffer, A. R. Hottenstein, and Joseph K. Schappig, Reformed. END OF PAGE 710 Chapter XXIV. LOWER MAHANOY TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION - DRAINAGE - EARLY HISTORY AND PRESENT BUSINESS AND INDUSTRIAL INTERESTS OF GEORGERTOWN - MALTA - INDUSTRIES - SCHOOLS - CHURCHES. LOWER MAHANOY comprises a triangular area in the extreme southern part of the county, bounded on the northwest by the Susquehanna river, on the southeast by Mahantango creek, and on the northeast by Jackson and Jordan townships. Prior to the organization of Northumberland county, this territory was embraced in Upper Paxtang township, Lancaster county; from 1772 until 1775 it formed part of Augusta township, and from 1775 until 1800 it was included in Mahanoy, the particulars regarding the division of which are given in the chapter on Upper Mahanoy. It was reduced to its present limits by the erection of Jackson township in 1836. The surface is mountainous, and ample drainage is afforded by a number of small streams flowing directly into the Susquehanna or Mahantango creek. The most fertile part of the township is Stone valley, one of the few limestone regions in the southern part of the county. GEORGETOWN. [Present day Dalmatia] This village, the most important in the extreme southern part of the county, is situated in the western part of Lower Mahanoy on the bank of the Susquehanna river and the line of the Northern Central railway. The site is embraced in a tract of land which was patented to Thomas McKee by the colonial government in 1767. Six years later it was purchased by William Dunbar and subsequently passed into the possession of Sebastian Brosius; he willed it to his son, John George Brosius, by whom a store was opened and a mill was erected; the latter is said to have been the first in the southern part of the county and was situated on Stone Valley creek at the lower end of the village. The town site was surveyed in 1798 by William Gray, deputy surveyor for Northumberland county, and became within a few years a place of considerable local importance. As evidenced by the assessment of 1811, the improvements at that date, with the names of respective owners and occupants, were as follows: house and stable, owned by Peter Secrist and occupied by George Borell; house, owned by James White and occupied by Hugh Bruman, storekeeper; house, owned and occupied by Peter Borell, blue-dyer; house, owned and occupied by Nicholas Bubb, Jr., END OF PAGE 711 carpenter; house and shop, owned and occupied by John Ebright, hatter; house and stable, owned and occupied by John Fenstermacher; house, owned and occupied by Peter Hoffman, inn keeper; house, owned and occupied by Daniel Lahr; house, owned and occupied by Daniel Rothermel, inn keeper; house and shop, owned by William Witman and occupied by Daniel Seasholtz, potter; house, owned and occupied by Jacob Stricken The town has steadily expanded in population and importance, and has always been the business center of the community naturally tributary to it. The present business and industrial interests include three general stores, one drug store, three hotels, a shingle and stave factory, and a nail mill. The postoffice designation is Dalmatia. Colonel James Cameron Post, No. 186, G.A.R., was organized on the 9th of March, 1882. MALTA. The post-village of this name is situated three miles from Georgetown on the main road from that place to Lykens and at its intersection with the Mahantango Valley road. It is the location of one store, a Reformed and Lutheran church, the shops of several mechanics, and perhaps a dozen private residences. The former local name was Vera Cruz. INDUSTRIES. The Witmer mill, as originally built by George Brosius, was a log structure; the present frame building is three stories high, equipped with three sets of buhrs. The mill now operated by Michael Spotts was built in 1845 by Michael Wart and Michael Rudel. A distillery was once operated by John Dockey. The Dalmatia Iron and Nail Company organized with John Bingeman, president, L. K. Ressler, treasurer, and W. O. Bingeman, secretary; the works include three frame buildings, with the necessary machinery. SCHOOLS. The first school house at Georgetown, a log structure, was situated at the site of Isaac Fenstermacher's residence; the names of Eisenhower, Bixler, Murray, Drake, and Brooker occur among the early teachers. The public school system was adopted in 1865; the first school board was composed of David Seiler, B. M. Bubb, Adam Lenker, S. B. High, Franklin Markley, and Elias Wiest. Messrs. Wiest and High, being opposed to the system, resigned, and Jacob Dreibelbeis and Philip Messner were appointed by the board in their places, December 16, 1865. As thus constituted, the directors organized on the 29th of December, 1865, with Adam Lenker, president, B. M. Bubb, secretary, and David Seiler, treasurer. Two new buildings were erected in 1866, six in 1867, and two subsequently, making ten school houses at the present time, in which eleven schools are taught. END OF PAGE 712 CHURCHES. Stone Valley Church, Lutheran and Reformed, was originally known under the name of Christian Unity, and it is supposed that public worship and the administration of the sacraments were begun in this locality as early as 1765. The first church building was a small log structure twenty by thirty feet; the second, which is in a good state of preservation at the present time (1890), was erected in 1796 by Jacob Thani, a carpenter by occupation, who received one hundred thirty pounds as evidenced by the agreement, which is still extant. The trustees at that time were Nicholas Bubb, Lutheran, and Henry Bordner, Reformed. This building was remodeled some years since, and is the present place of worship. The joint congregations also own a tract of land containing sixty-five acres and ninety-three perches, a patent for which was gratuitously granted by the State. The Lutheran organization was formed by Reverend Wolf prior to 1775 and probably some years anterior to that date. He was successively followed by the Reverends Adam, Gansel, Ulrich, and Walther, whose terms of service are not known. Rev. Peter Shindel was pastor, l822-35; John Nicholas Hemping, 1835-51; C. F. Welden, 1851; Reverends Yeager, Bergner, and Walz, 1852-64; Jeremiah Shindel, 1864-70; J. W. Early, 1870-74; J. M. Ulrich, 1874-82; C. R. Drumheller, 1883-84, and W. H. Geiger, 1884, present incumbent. The present (1890) church council is composed of Benjamin Phillips, J. W. Lenker, Adam Byerly, J. M. Byerly, J. F. Lenker, and Michael Rudel. Georgetown Church, Lutheran and Reformed, is a frame building forty by fifty feet in dimensions, erected in 1845. The organizers were George Brosius, John Bressner, William Shaffer, Peter Witmer, Solomon Ressler, Abraham Deetry, Jacob Dreibelbeis, and George Witmer. Among the pastors have been Reverends Stiver, Bressler, Engle, Early, Ulrich, Drumheller, Geiger, and Brown. Vera Cruz Church, Lutheran and Reformed, is a brick structure thirty- five by fifty-five feet in dimensions, with steeple and bell. The corner-stone was laid on the 12th of August, 1860, and the dedication occurred, June 8, 1862. The Lutheran congregation was organized in 1856 from a membership formerly connected with the Stone Valley church, and now (1890) numbers one hundred fifteen members. The following is a list of pastors: Reverend Walz, 1856-64; Jeremiah Shindel, 1864-70; J. W. Early, 1870-74; J. M. Urlich, 1874- 82; C. R. Drumheller, 1883-84, and W. H. Geiger, 1884, present incumbent. Bingeman Church of the Evangelical Association was organized in 1850; prominent among the early members were Nicholas Bingeman, Peter Heckert, Samuel Fetterhoff, Harry Weaver, Peter Kocher, and Joseph Spotts. The pastors have been Reverends Knorr, Kramer, Fry, Shultz, Leopold, END OF PAGE 713 Whitmer, Shultz, Brown, Warmcastle, Rumberger, Fair, and Fisher. The church edifice is a frame building. The Georgetown Methodist Episcopal Church is a frame building situated on the north side of Sunbury street in the eastern part of the village. The congregation is small numerically, and has no resident pastor. CHAPTER XXV. POINT TOWNSHIP. PROCEEDINGS FOR ITS ERECTION - FIRST TOWNSHIP OFFICERS - PIONEERS - INDUSTRIES. The triangular area bounded by Montour ridge, the West Branch, and the North Branch, now included in the township of Point and the borough of Northumberland, formed part of Turbut township at the time of its erection, April 9, 1772. At February sessions, 1775, Mahoning was stricken from the southern part of Turbut, and at the corresponding term of court eleven years later (February sessions, 1786), Point was formed from Mahoning. The record of the proceedings in this case is as follows:- Upon the petition of divers inhabitants of the township of Mahoning, setting forth, that the extensiveness and increase of the inhabitants in the township aforesaid, together with the distance the town of Northumberland and the lower end of the said township are from a justice of the peace, renders it extremely burthensome for township officers in the performance of their duty, as also expensive and inconvenient for the inhabitants to attend legal process; and prayed the court to divide the said township by a line beginning at the nine-mile tree on the North Branch, and extending eastwardly along the middle of Montour's mountain to the fording at William Cooke's mill on Chillisquaque; and further prayed the court to report the same unto the Executive Council as a proper district for the election of justices of the peace: whereupon the court, upon due consideration, confirmed the boundary line aforesaid, and order the division, part, including Northumberland-Town, to be called Point township; and the court further order that the same be returned to Council as a proper and fit district, etc. for the electing justices of the peace, etc. The first township officers were Laughlin McCartney and Bernard Hubley, overseers of the poor; Daniel Reese and Daniel Kelly, viewers of fences; James Hepburn and James Jenkins, supervisors, and Joseph Torbett, constable. PIONEERS. The following is a list of the taxables of the township as returned for the year 1787 at the first assessment after its organization: Frederick Antes, William Antes, William Armstrong, Widow Adams, John Allen, William END OF PAGE 714 Adams, John Bachenstozs, Daniel Bardan, John Bull, John Bullion, William Bonham, John Cowden, James Conasert, William Cooke, William Clelland, John Cruders, William Clen, James Crawford, Samuel Doyle, James Davidson, Christopher Dering, Henry Drageloos, Philip Frick, Robert. Follmer, Frederick Feak, Thomas Gaskins, Andrew Gregg, William Gregg, Thomas Gary, Abiel Gibbons, George Hoffman, William Hoffman, James Hepburn, Joseph Harbor, John Hannah, Francis Ihrewood, Widow Jenkins, Daniel Kelly, Robert King, Aaron Levy, William Lemon, Benjamin Lyon, James Logan, Philip Maus, Dennis McLaughlin, Lughlin McCartney, Daniel Montgomery, William Mahy, Neal McCoy, Arthur McGill, William McKein, Robert Martin, John Niplick, John Painter, William Plunket, Archibald Ruay, Jacob Ross, Daniel Reese, Peter Steel, John Sechler, John Shuler, Joseph Sechler, Morgan Sweney, John Scott, Thomas Taggart, Joseph Torbett, James Van Campen, James Wilson, James Wagstaff, David Woodside. John Bull, William Cooke, Widow Jenkins, and Thomas Martin were each assessed with one negro, Robert Martin with two, and Laughlin McCartney with one mulatto. Thomas Lemon, one of the first justices commissioned for Northumberland county, was one of the earliest settlers in Point township. He was born on the Atlantic ocean, two weeks before his parents landed upon American soil; they came from Scotland, settled at Winchester, Virginia, and reared two sons, Robert and Thomas. The latter married Margaret Haugh, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, daughter of Matthias and Mary Haugh, who, in 1769, deeded a large tract of land in the North Branch valley to Thomas and Margaret Lemon. They settled near that river about five miles above Northumberland, and reared a family of four sons and one daughter: the latter, whose name was Elizabeth, married Joseph Engle, of Philadelphia; three of the sons removed to the Genesee valley, New York, and the parental estate in Point township thus passed into the possession of James Lemon, the only one of the family who remained in this county. He married Rachel, daughter of George and Martha Fleming; their daughter, Martha, was twice married: first, to William Cooke, whose father was the first sheriff of Northumberland county; after his death she became the wife of Jesse C. Horton, the well known stage proprietor and a prominent figure in Northumberland county politics. INDUSTRIES. The large stone flour mill on Lodge's run, two miles north of Northumberland, was erected in 1815 by George Grant. Two years later William K. Lloyd established a flour mill on the same stream within a short distance of Grant's; the large frame building erected by him is still standing, although the milling business was discontinued in 1887. Mr. Lloyd also operated a carding machine, one of the first in the county and an important feature of the establishment. END OF PAGE 715 There were quite a number of distilleries in operation at one time, considering the limited agricultural territory of the township. Robert Morris, Joseph B. Priestley, Jacob Dentler, William A. Lloyd, James Lemon, and George Grant are remembered as the proprietors of establishments of this nature. Chulasky Furnace is situated at the station of that name on the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western railroad. It was established some forty years ago, and has experienced a number of changes in ownership and management. CHAPTER XXVI. CHILLISQUAQUE TOWNSHIP. AREA AND TOPOGRAPHY - ERECTION AND SUBDIVISION - PIONEER INDUSTRIES - POTTSGROVE - MONTANDON - SODOM - CHILLISQUAQUE - SCHOOLS - CHURCHES. CHILLISQUAQUE creek drains nearly the whole of that part of Northumberland county situated between Montour ridge and Limestone ridge, with a general southwesterly course from the Montour county line to its junction with the West Branch. This region, one of the most fertile and populous agricultural districts in the county, forms the township of Chillisquaque; it is traversed by the Philadelphia and Erie and Catawissa railroads, and has several villages of importance in addition to its advantages as a farming section. The present area of Chillisquaque township was originally embraced in Turbut, erected, April 9, 1772. At February sessions, 1775, Mahoning was formed from the southern part of Turbut, with Chillisquaque creek as a mutual boundary. Point was erected from Mahoning at February term, 1786, thus leaving to the latter a narrow triangular territory; and at the following May term the township of Chillisquaque was formed from the contiguous portions of Mahoning and Turbut, with the following boundaries. Beginning at the corner of Point township on the top of Montour's hill nearly opposite the nine- mile tree, and to extend from thence to Joseph Wilson's on the north side of Chillisquaque creek, from thence to the top of the Limestone ridge to the house occupied by Neal Davis on Colonel Francis's land, from thence a straight course to the West Branch of Susquehanna. In 1813 this township was attached to Columbia county, of which it formed a part until 1815; it was then reannexed to Northumberland, but in the following year a considerable part of its territory was again attached to Columbia and now forms part of Montour. END OF PAGE 716 The following is a list of the taxable inhabitants of Chillisquaque township in 1783, when it included Liberty township, Montour county, in addition to its present area: John Alexander, William Anderson, William Allen, Daniel Bates, John Blair, John Blair, Jr., Samuel Blair, Joseph Biggars, David Carson, Johnston Cheney, Adam Clark, John Clark, James Carscaddon, James Carscaddon, Jr., John Carscaddon, William Carscaddon, Charles Cochran, James Cochran, John Cochran, Widow Campbell, John Curry, John Cheney, James Dunlap, John Donaldson, James Davidson, Thomas Davidson, James Donaldson, Andrew Davis, Benjamin Elliott, John Funston, Jesse Funston, William Fisher, Robert Finney, John Gillespie, Robert Giffin, Widow Gillespie, Paul Geddis, Hugh Gowan, John Galloway, John Gray, John Hunter, William Haslet, Stephen Horn, Adam Hempleman, Thomas Hewitt, Francis Huston, Thomas Hammer, John Hannah, Samuel Harper, George Irwin, Samuel Irwin, Leonard Kelley, Neul McMullen, Charles McCoy, William Mulligan, Richard Mayhew, William Murray, Patrick McNinch, John Martin, George Morrison, John McMahan, John Murray, David McCartney, John McMahan, James McMahan, Robert McWilliams, Hugh McBride, Alexander Miller, James Murray, James Neal, Stephen Oliver, Samuel Oaks, Thomas Palmer, Hance Potts, Thomas Rodgers, Martin Reece, James Robinson, William Reed, David Reynolds, James Reynolds. Robert Reynolds, Archibald Sweney, John Seely, David Scott, David Stedman, William Stedman, James Stedman, Baltzer Stake, James Stadden, John Shaw, Thomas Strawbridge, Jacob Shipman, Jacob Teeple, George Teeple, John Tate, Isaac Wilson, Nathaniel Wilson, Joseph Wilson, John Wilson, Leonard Wilkins, Joseph Wilson, Samuel Wynn, Benjamin Wynn, James Woodside, David Wilkins. John Alexander was assessed with one servant, to serve two years; Alexander Miller, with one servant, to serve one year; and Thomas Strawbridge, with one negro, who were the only property of that description. The largest amount of property assessed to any one individual was five hundred seventeen pounds, in the name of Thomas Palmer; James Stedman followed, with four hundred twenty-seven pounds, and Thomas Strawbridge with three hundred one. John Brady was born in 1733, son of Hugh and Jane (Young) Brady, who settled in the Cumberland valley near Shippensburg in 1750. His military career began in the French and Indian war. On the 19th of July, 1763, he was commissioned as captain in Colonel Clayton's battalion of the Pennsylvania regiment, and served under Colonel Bouquet in 1764. In 1768 he settled at Standing Stone (Huntingdon), but, having obtained a tract of land on the West Branch opposite Lewisburg in consideration of his military services, he removed thither in 1769, and was thus one of the earliest as he was also one of the most prominent pioneers of Northumberland county. In END OF PAGE 717 August 1772, he was foreman of the first jury impanelled after the organization of the county. On the 14th of October, 1776, he was commissioned as captain in the Twelfth Pennsylvania regiment, with which he served in the campaigns in New Jersey and Pennsylvania until the 1st of July, 1778. when the Twelfth was incorporated with the Third. He was then ordered home by General Washington to assist in the defense of the West Branch valley; he had previously removed his family to Muncy and fortified his house (which became a rendezvous for the inhabitants and was known as Fort Brady), and was killed by the Indians while making a reconnaissance in that vicinity, April 11, 1779. He married Mary Quigley, and they were the parents of thirteen children: Samuel, whose skill and success as a captain of rangers is celebrated in the annals of border warfare; James, who died at Sunbury from wounds received in a skirmish with the Indians; William; John, sheriff of Northumberland county, 1794-97; Mary, who married Captain William Gray, of Sunbury; William P., a pioneer and prominent citizen of Indiana county, Pennsylvania; Hugh, major general in the United States Army; Jane; Robert; Agnes; Hannah, who married Captain Robert Gray, of Sunbury; Joseph, and Liberty, who married William Dewart, of Sunbury. INDUSTRIES. Three distilleries were returned by the assessment of 1758, owned, respectively by William Allen, Jesse Funston, and Archibald Sweney, and assessed at the uniform rate of three pounds. Thomas Strawbridge owned a tan-yard, evidently of far greater importance than either of the distilleries, as it is returned at twenty pounds. Thomas Palmer had a grist and saw mill to which no valuation is attached, which omission is sufficiently explained by the word "useless" inclosed in parentheses after it by the assessor. This mill was probably situated on Chillisquaque creek about half a mile from its mouth, where a ripple in the stream marks the location of an old dam and the course of the mill- race is still discernible. Palmer's mill is referred to in some of the very early records of the county, and it was probably the first mill on Chillisquaque creek. Chillisquaque Mill's, on the south bank of Chillisquaque creek a quarter of a mile from its mouth and about the same distance from the line of Point township, were originally erected in 1791 by William Wilson, whose partner for some years was John Boyd; the former subsequently became associate judge of Northumberland county and the latter register and recorder, while both were prominent in business and political affairs. The building was constructed of stone, and stood immediately in the rear of the present structure, after the erection of which it was used as a plaster mill. The present mill is a five-story frame building, equipped with roller process apparatus; the present proprietor is A. F. Otlinger, and among his predecessors during the last half-century have been Messrs. Andrews, Burger, Daniel and David Heiser, Joseph and Norman Butler, Raser, and Vincent. END OF PAGE 718 The Pottsgrove Steam Flour Mill was removed from Limestone run, Turbut Township, and rebuilt at Pottsgrove by William Follmer, Michael Rissel, and James Smith, and after being successfully operated for some time, was destroyed by fire several years since. D. M. Nesbit's Planing Mill, on the bank of the West Branch at the crossing of the Lewisburg and Tyrone railroad, was established by Dieffenderfer & Driesbach, and has been successfully operated by Dieffenderfer & Candor, the East Lewisburg Manufacturing Company, and the present proprietor. School furniture was manufactured to a considerable extent at one time, but the product is now confined to general planing mill work. Dodge & Company's Steam Saw Mills at Chillisquaque were operated quite extensively for a short time some years since, but the timber in that locality having been exhausted, the plant was removed elsewhere. Cold Spring Creamery, situated one mile south of Montandon near the Philadelphia and Erie railroad, was built by C. F. Butler and opened on the 14th of April, 1890. It is a three-story building twenty-four by thirty-six feet with several projections and a basement, and is fitted with machinery capable of making eight hundred pounds of butter per day. In connection with the creamery Mr. Butler has a chopping mill, spoke and handle factory, and a hydraulic cider press. The power is derived from a twenty-five horse-power engine. POTTSGROVE. This village is situated four miles southeast of Milton, where the road leading from Milton to Danville is crossed by that leading from Northumberland to Washingtonville. It is also located near the Catawissa branch of the Philadelphia and Reading railroad. Two churches, a public school building, several stores, the shops of several mechanics, and a population of about a hundred people constitute the town at present. The land on which it stands was first owned by William Reed, who came to this section during the Revolutionary war and erected the first house in this locality, about a quarter of a mile south of Pottsgrove on the Northumberland and Washingtonville road. He was the first justice of the peace in this part of the county, having been commissioned by Governor Mifflin. The first house in the village was erected by James Reed, a son of William Reed, in l784, with Alexander Reed as carpenter. In this house James Reed established the first hotel in 18l8, known as "Travelers' Inn." Here the first postoffice was also established, in 1821, with James Reed as first postmaster. The old hotel building is still standing, and is at present occupied by William Reed, a son of James Reed, who is the oldest resident of this part of the county. The first industry was a tannery, built near the present limit of the village by a Mr. Shoemaker, who immigrated from Berks county in 1810. This END OF PAGE 719 tannery was in operation till some five years ago, when it was destroyed by fire. In 1820 the first blacksmith shop was opened by David Perry, who was for many years the "village blacksmith" of Pottsgrove. The first weaver was Hans Potts, from whom the place derives its name. The first store was established in 1832 by the firm of Sproll & Park, who did business five years. when they dissolved partnership and James Reed started a store in connection with his hotel and postoffice. After his death the business of storekeeping was not conducted for some years. In 1881 L. J. Beaver built the present store room on the southwest corner of the crossroads, and established therein a general mercantile trade. In 1880 B. M. Beaver established a coal and grain market in connection with a steam grist mill, which business he conducted for some time. His successor was a Mr. Blue, who did a successful business until May, 1890, when the establishment burned and operations ceased. Pottsgrove Lodge, No. 623, I.O.O.F., was chartered on the 21st of March, 1890 MONTANDON. The ground upon which this village stands was first owned by an English pioneer, Foresman by name; the first house in the immediate vicinity was erected in 1825 at the place where the road leading from Lewisburg to Danville is crossed by that from Milton to Sunbury, by Benjamin Foresman, a grandson of the first settler. This structure is still standing, just without the limits of the town plat, and is occupied by Hugh Martin, one of the oldest citizens of the place. It was in this house that the first hotel was established by Joseph Foresman in 1832 and continued by him until 1855; it was known as "Foresman's Hotel" or "The Sodom Tavern" The house was kept open for the accommodation of the public until the property was purchased by Mr. Martin. Between the years 1828 and 1834 the ground upon which the town stands was used for a race course by the Foresman brothers, who were great horsemen. Horses were brought from adjoining counties, and the inhabitants from far and near would congregate at this place to witness the races. In 1840, Peter Waldron, a blacksmith from Lancaster County, located a short distance to the south of the Foresman building on the Sunbury and Milton road. The next improvement was a shoemaker shop, which was established by a Mr. Colby in 1848. The first justice of the peace in the community was Thomas Pardee, who filled that office for many years. The first effort to establish a town was made by Francis and Jeremiah Church about the time the Pennsylvania canal was completed. The plan, which is on record in the county archives at Sunbury, exhibits a town plat between the canal and river, south of the Lewisburg crosscut, with Front street, Cherry alley, Jackson street, Montgomery, Church, Sarah's, Locust, END OF PAGE 720 Page 721 contains a portrait of Hugh Martin. Page 722 is blank. and Dusty alleys and Wilson street parallel with the canal and river, intersected by Market and Green streets. The width of market is given as seventy-five feet, of Front and Jackson as sixty feet, and of Green, fifty-five feet. One hundred sixty lots are represented as having been laid out. This effort to establish a town no doubt indicated considerable enterprise on the part of the projectors, but the place failed to materialize. owing in all probability to the fact that the country was not so thickly settled at that time as to require an intermediate trading point between Milton and Northumberland. Upon the completion of the Philadelphia and Erie and the Lewisburg and Tyrone railroads the attempt to found a town was repeated under more favorable auspices. Up to this time the country was a farming district exclusively, with no other industries than the blacksmith and shoemaker shops mentioned in connection with the early settlement. In l861 P. Hackenberg bought of Cameron & Wall a lot lying to the east of the railroad and south of the Lewisburg and Danville road, upon which he erected a house and established therein the first store of the place in connection with the hotel business. In the same year, through the influence of Mr. Hackenberg, the first postoffice of the town was established with himself as postmaster. It was named Cameronia in honor of the Cameron family. At this time the north side of the Lewisburg and Danville road belonged to the John Caul estate, and that to the south to Edward and Benjamin Hummel. In 1865 Lewis O. Hunner purchased a portion of the John Caul estate lying on tire east side of the Philadelphia and Erie railroad. In the same year the land belonging to Edward and Benjamin Hummel was purchased by John A. J. and Robert M. Cummings. Under the joint auspices of Messrs. Cummings and Hunner a town plat was surveyed in March, 1866, by David Rockefeller. The streets running east and west beginning at the northern extremity of the plat are Center, Main, the Lewisburg and Danville road, Cummings, and Chillisquaque. Those intersecting these and running north and south are Railroad and Northumberland, Railroad being the farther west. There were two houses here at that time. The first, built by Edward and Benjamin Hummel for use as a farm house, was purchased by John A. J. and Robert M. Cummings with the land they bought in 1865, and stands in relation to the above mentioned plan on the south side of Main near Railroad street. The second house erected is the hotel built by P. Hackenberg in 1861 on the southeast corner of Main and Railroad streets. In 1865 this building came into the possession of C. E. Hartman, who extended it to its present size and continued the hotel business for some time. This house has been used for the accommodation of the public since 1861, and is the only hotel in the town. The first house built after the survey of the town plat END OF PAGE 723 was that erected by Dr. N. C. Purdy, on the north side of Main street mid-way between Railroad and Northumberland streets. Owing to the inconvenience caused by mail and express matter addressed to Cameronia going to Cameron county, the postoffice designation was changed to Montandon in 1867 through the influence of John A. J. and Robert M. Cummings, the name being suggested by the former. Circumstances have not favored the rapid expansion of the town, but by gradual growth it has attained a population of three hundred fifty, with three stores, one hotel, two churches, and shops of the various mechanics. SODOM. Sodom consists of a small group of houses situated one mile east of Montandon where the Montandon and Lewisburg road is crossed by that leading from Northumberland to Milton. The first person to locate here was in all probability Lot Carson, from whom the place received its name; he kept a hotel at the crossroads for the accommodation of the stage coaches, and lost his life by falling into a well while under the influence of liquor. A quaint old school house of peculiar shape is situated in the vicinity; it was erected in 1814 as a place of worship. CHILLISQUAQUE. The post-village of this name is situated in the extreme southwestern part of Chillisquaque township. At the earliest period in its history it was a trading point on the old Northumberland and Milton road; later it became a shipping point on the canal, and at the present time, Otlinger's mill, the store of J. E. K. Schwenk, and the shops and residences of various local mechanics constitute the village. Kapp's station, on the Philadelphia and Erie railroad, is located in the vicinity, and affords convenient access. SCHOOLS. The public school system was adopted in 1834, and has been creditably sustained to the present time. The Pottsgrove Academy was established in 1875 by a local stock company; it has been successfully conducted, affording good facilities for the pursuit of studies beyond the grade of the public school curriculum. CHURCHES. Chillisquaque Presbyterian Church was organized about the year 1773. The burial ground, one of the oldest in central Pennsylvania, is situated a mile and a half northeast of Pottsgrove in Montour county. Three church buildings have been erected at that point. The first, a wooden structure, was burned by the Indians during the Revolutionary period. The second was likewise a log structure as originally built, but in 1789-90 it was exten- END OF PAGE 724 sively altered and plastered within and given a pebble-dash without. The present brick building was erected in 1853. The removal of the place of worship to Pottsgrove was decided upon in 1889 and in 1889-91 the church edifice at that point, a two-story stone structure fifty feet square, was built under the supervision of a committee composed of Joseph K. Murray, William McMahan, Gilbert Voris, William Voris, and H. M. Emerick, M. D. The pastoral succession has been as follows: Rev. John Bryson, 1790-1840; Daniel M. Barber, 1840-59; Charles H. Park, 1859-75; H. G. Finney. l875-87; J. O. George, 1887-89, and Abbott L. R. Waite, the present incumbent, who was installed on the 27th of February, 1890. Montandon Baptist Church.- The first meeting for the organization of a Baptist congregation at this place was held in the house of Mrs. McGinley some time during the year 1864. A Sunday school was organized and held in the Philadelphia and Erie railroad depot for some time, after which worship was successively conducted in the school house in a small room above the brick store room now occupied by Connor & Company. And in an old store room which stood along the railroad. The lot upon which the church building stands was purchased October 17, 1868. Rev. George J. Brensinger, a student at Lewisburg, was pastor at the time of its erection in 1870. Previous to 1882 the congregation was a mission, but during that year it was organized as a regular Baptist church, with L. W. Frymire, J. H. Winghert, Abraham Fairchild, Peter H. Beaver, John Garber, Edward Hummel, and Joseph Keyser as the first trustees. A charter was obtained, December 23, 1885, and a deed for the church property previously held by the Lewisburg Baptist church, was transferred to the Montandon organization, March 23, 1886. The following is a list of pastors who have served the congregation since its organization in 1882: Reverends Thomas Howard, J. Watres, J. A. Kouroldon, Mr. Bagshaw, Mr. Farlie, Mr. Hanson, J. Sagebeer, R. B. McDaniel, and Mr. Fields. Montandon Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1809 with John Andrews as its first class leader. Among the first families connected with the congregation were the Andrews, Cummings, Butlers, Autens, Parks, Kingsburys, and Bakers. Until 1874 they worshipped in private houses, in the school building, and in the Baptist church. In 1873 under the ministration of Rev. A. P. Wharton, the question of erecting a church edifice was agitated. In 1874 the building was begun with W. M. Auten, John A. J. Cummings, T. T. Baker, H. S. Park, and W. H. Cool as building committee. The corner-stone was laid, June 20, 1874, and the building was dedicated on the 22d of November in the same year. The following is a list of pastors who have served the congregation in chronological order Rev. A. P. Wharton, 1873-76; John Vrooman, 1876-78; H. F. Caves, 1878-79; B. H. Crever, 1879-81; A. E. Taylor, 1881-83; D. H. Shields 1883-85; J. H. Mortimer, 1885-87; J. W. Feight, 1887-90. END OF PAGE 725 The Evangelical Association is represented by one organization in Chillisquaque township, formed in December, 1871. A Methodist church building at Sodom was purchased, rebuilt in the northwestern part of the township, and dedicated in 1872 during the administration of Rev. A. H. Irvin. Among his successors as pastor have been Reverends Henry B. Hertzler, Adam W. Schenberger, S. P. Remer, Henry A. Stoke, J. A. Irvin, and C. W. Finkbinder Pottsgrove Evangelical Lutheran Church was formed in 1882 from a membership formerly connected with the Center Lutheran church of Montour county. The first council consisted of the following laymen: Jonathan Rishel and M. Mull, elders; Isaiah C. Rishel, J. A. Kremer, S. Miller Boyer, and D. W. Messersmith, deacons. The corner-stone of the church edifice was laid on the 9th of October, 1881, Rev. J. A. Flickinger officiating. It is a plain brick structure about forty-four by sixty feet in dimensions, surmounted by a belfry, and is situated upon the most commanding site in the village. The present pastor, Rev. G. E. Faber, assumed charge, March 1, 1889, and was installed on the 14th of July following, Reverends F. H. Leisenring and M. L. Shindel officiating. The origin of the Sunday school was contemporaneous with that of the church; J. B. Kremer was the first superintendent. Chillisquaque Union Chapel, a frame building erected on land given by Mrs. Charles S. Wolfe, was completed in 1890, and is the place of worship for a flourishing union Sunday school conducted by theological students from Bucknell University, Lewisburg. It is situated on the road leading from Milton to Montandon. END OF CHAPTER XXVI.