History of That Part of the Susquehanna and Juniata Valleys, Embraced in the Counties Of

TOWNSHIP FORMATION

Lack - 1754, original township
Fermanagh - about 1755, original township
Greenwood - about 1767, from Fermanagh
Milford - 1768, from Lack
Turbett - 1815, from Milford
Walker - 1822 or 1823 from Fermanagh
Tuscarora - 1825, from Lack
Fayette - 1834, from Fermanagh and Greenwood
Delaware - 1836, from Walker and Greenwood
Beale - 1843, from Milford and Turbett
Susquehanna - 1858, from Greenwood
Monroe - 1858 from Greenwood
Spruce Hill - 1858, from Turbett

History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania...
Edited by F. Ellis and A. N. Hungerford.
Published in Philadelphia by Everts, Peck & Richards, 1886
Pages 667-679

CHAPTER II.
Miscellaneous Matters—Progress of Settlement—Oddities from the Old Records—Election Districts—Negro Slavery.
By A. L. Guss.

PROGRESS OF FIRST SETTLEMENT.—Statistical tables generally make very dry reading; but if the reader will study and analyze the following figures, he will find food for some very interesting reflections on the beginning and progress made by the early settlers. It shows that even during the trying times of the Revolutionary War there was a steady advance in clearing and stock-raising, and no doubt much stock was driven to the army, and taken farther west by the onward-moving settlers, especially about the close of the war. The number of persons owning stock is the best index to the number of actual settlers. Subtracting the stock-owners from the owners of land, leaves mostly non-resident land-owners. A very few names appear without either land or stock. The land speculators mostly lived at Carlisle, Lancaster and Philadelphia.
There must have been a good many residents not taxed, as they appear and disappear so often without any apparent cause. In 1766 Rev. Charles Beatty says there were eighty-four families residing then in Tuscarora Valley; but the assessment of 1767 does not show more than seventy. He also speaks of there being fifty families on the north side of Juniata who meet together for worship; yet the Fermanagh list for 1767 does not show more than forty residents “below ye Narrows.” It seems pretty certain that in these early days poor people who had no land or stock were generally not placed on the assessment lists. Judging by the population given in 1784, which gives a ratio of 5.72 souls to a dwelling, there must have been not far from forty families, in the three townships, of whose presence there is no evidence upon the tax-lists of 1785. Many were drifting westward, hardly tarrying long enough in one place to get on a tax-list. It is apparent, however, that during the decade covering the Revolutionary War the population about doubled itself.

THE REGION IN 1775—FITHIAN’S JOURNAL.—The following interesting account of a journal made from Path Valley, through the whole length of Juniata County, to Sunbury in 1775, is taken from the diary of Rev. Philip Fithian. He was a graduate of the College of New Jersey in 1772, and licensed to preach by the first Presbytery of Philadelphia, November 6, 1774. There being no vacancies near home, he received an honorable dismissal, and at a Presbytery held near Mercersburg was commissioned to visit Central Pennsylvania as a supply to the scattered churches. May 9, 1775, he left his home at Greenwich, N.J., on horseback, for a tour through Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia. His journal is all interesting, but we give place to only that part which relates to Juniata County. It was addressed to his sweetheart, Miss Elizabeth Beatty, whom he afterwards married after his return, October 25th. In June following, he became chaplain of Colonel Newcomb’s battalion of New Jersey militia, and died of dysentery at Camp Fort Washington, October 8, 1776. He kept his journal up until after the battle of Long Island, the last entry, on Sunday, September 22d, being: “Many of our battalion sick; our lads grow tired and begin to count the days of service which remain.” We start with him in Path Valley, Franklin County,--
“Thursday, June 22, 1775.—This valley is in many places not more than a mile wide; it is level, and the land rich; the mountains are both high and so near, that the sun is hid night and morning an hour before he rises and sets. I rode on to one Elliot’s [Francis Elliot, at whose house the Rev. Charles Beatty stopped in 1766, on his return from the Ohio.], he keeps a genteel house with good accommodations. I saw a young woman, a daughter of his, who has never been over the South Mountain, as elegant in her manner and as neat in her dress as most in the city. It is not place, therefore, but temper makes the person. In this valley we have many of the sugar tree; it is very like a maple; the bark is more rough and curled. It grows in a low, level, rich land. They told me there has been frost here two mornings last week.
“Friday, June 23.—Expenses at this tavern, 4 ½ shillings; distance from Philadelphia computed, 160 miles west. We passed from this valley by the Narrows [This is the gap at Concord and opening out toward Waterloo.], into Tuscarora valley, a most stony valley; two high mountains on every side. The passage so narrow, that you may take one stone in your right hand and another in your left and throw each upon a mountain, and they are so high that they obscure more than half of the horizon. A rainy, dripping day, more uncomfortable for riding among the leaves. On the way all day was only a small foot-path, and covered all with sharp stones. After many circumlocutions and regradations through the woods, it raining all day, we arrived about five in the evening, although besoaked, at one James Gray’s [James Gray, in Spruce Hill township, who was a brother of John Gray, whose wife was carried off by the Indians in 1756.], in a little hamlet in the woods. He was kind, and received me civilly; he had good pasture for my horse, and his good wife prepared me a warm and suitable supper. Forgive me, my country! I supped on tea! It relieved me, however, and I went to bed soon. Distance rode to-day, 28 miles; course, N.N.W.; expenses at small tavern, 1s.
“Saturday, June 24.—Before breakfast came in a Scotch matron with her rock and spindle, twisting away at the flax. The rock is a long staff on the end of which is her flax, like a distaff; the spindle is a peg about 8 inches long, sharp at the end where the thread is twisted, and large at the other where it is rolled on. Expense here, 2s. I rode on after breakfast to Mr. Samuel Lyon’s [Samuel Lyon, Esq., third son of John, lived on the John Kelly place, in Milford. Houses with glass windows were yet a rarity in this region.], twelve miles yet in Tuscarora. He lives neat, has glass windows, and apparently a good farm. Here I met Mr. Slemons on his way down. From Mr. Lyon’s I rode to the Juniata, three miles, forded it and stopped just on the other side at John Harris, Esq. [Founder of Mifflin.] He lives elegantly. In the parlor where I was sitting are three windows, each with twenty-four lights of large glass.
“Sunday, June 25.—Cedar Springs, Cumberland county. A large and genteel society, but in great and furious turmoil about one Mr. Kennedy [The “genteel society” was the Presbyterian Church, near the residence of David Diven.], who was once their preacher. Poor I was frightened. One of the society when he was asked to set the tune, answered: ‘that he knew not whether I was a Papiast or a Methodist, or a Baptist or a Seceder.’ I made him soon acquainted with my authority. It is now sunset, and I am sitting under a dark tuft of willow and large sycamores, close on the bank of the beautiful river Juniata. The river, near two hundred yards broad, lined with willows, sycamores, walnuts, white-oaks and a fine bank—what are my thoughts? Fair genius of this water, O tell me, will not this, in some future time, be a vast, pleasant and very populous country? Are not many large towns to be raised on these shady banks? I seem to wish to be transferred forward only one century. Great God, America will surprise the world. [Think of this observant and reflecting young man on the bank of the Juniata, at Mifflintown, under the willows and sycamores that lined the water-edge, anticipating the Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia, “only one century forward.” Had he been “transferred” no one would have been so much surprised as himself; and a century hence will equally surprise us if we live to see it.]
“Monday, June 26.—I rose early with the purpose of setting off for Sunbury. I had an invitation to a wedding in the neighborhood, but my business will not permit me. After breakfast I rode to one Mr. Bogle’s [This was Joseph Bogle. He lived and owned the tract called “Hibernia,” where McAlisterville is now located. The Bogles left that section in 1778.] a well-disposed, civil and sensible man. He entertained me kindly and acquainted me largely with the disturbance with Mr. Kennedy. I dined with him and his wife. She looks very much in person and appears in manner like my much-honored and ever dear Mamma. Thence I rode onward through a dark, bleak, path, they called it ‘bridle-road,’ to one Mr. Eckert’s, a Dutchman [German]. He used me with great civility and politeness. Distance rode to-day, 25 miles; course N.E. I met on the road a tinker, on the way to what is called the ‘New Purchase.’ [The region embracing the valleys of the North and West Branches of the Susquehanna had been purchased from the Six Nations in 1768.] He has been at Cohansie. Knew many there, at Pottsgrove, Deepel and New England town. He told me that he had been acquainted in Seven Colonies, but never yet saw any place in which the inhabitants were so sober, uniform in their manners, and every act so religious as at New England town, and Mr. Ramsey was his favorite preacher. He spoke of religious matters with understanding, and I hope with some feeling.
“Tuesday, June 27.—Rode from the clever Dutchman’s [It seems a little strange that an educated man like Fithian, who could tell a Scotch woman on sight, should call the Germans by the title of Dutch. The Dutch are not more nearly allied to the Germans than the English, and in enterprise and intelligence were at that period not inferior to either. Yet it was used at that day already, as it is still used, implying a degree of contempt and superiority in the speaker, and stupidity and inferiority in these “Dutchmen.” The best comment on this stigma attempted to be cast on these Germans in the old days is the fact that descendants of the “Dumb Dutchmen” now own the farms of those who once spoke with epithets of reproach. It is simply astonishing to see how this Teutonic tide, which entered the county at the east end on the Susquehanna, has swept through the county to the western limits.] to Sunbury over the Susquehanna, fifteen miles. I think the river is a half a mile over, and so shallow that I forded it. The bottom is hard rock. Sunbury is on the northeast bank. It is yet a small village, but seems to be growing rapidly. Then I rode on half a mile to one Hunter’s [Colonel Samuel Hunter. Fort Augusta was at Sunbury.], within the walls of Fort August. Then I rode onward to Northumberland about a mile, but on the way crossed the river twice.” [The old fording crossed by the large island in the North Branch of Northumberland, which made the journey seem as if crossing the river twice.]
FIRST APPEARANCE OF GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES ON THE TAX-LISTS.—At first geographical names are used as pointers to lands unoccupied, but they soon give place to adjoining residents. The following selections only prove that they were so used and spelled. How long before this use they were in vogue must be learned elsewhere.
Lack.—Name spelled “Leck” in 1763, and also in 1767. Ralph Sterrett has land “adjoining Hicory Leek” in 1769, and “Hickory Lick” in 1770, and the same occurs twice in 1799. David Elder has land “adj. Head of George’s Cr.” in 1769; David Magaw on the same in 1770; and Barnaby Bains in 1774. John Patts has land “adj. Bigham’s Gap” in 1769; Samuel Scott on same in 1772; and Francis West at “Bigam’s fort” in 1774. The spelling “Bingham,” used by some writers, does not occur in the tax-lists, nor does the name of Samuel Bigham, who built the fort, appear in any of the lists of taxables. Rev. George Duffield has land “at Head of Tuscarora” in 1770. James Glenn has land “adj. Trough Spring” in 1774; and Robert Livers a tract “near trough springs waters” in the same year, and Robert Magaw a tract on “Wood Run.” “Waterford” is named in 1809.
Milford.—Joseph Jacobs had a tract “adj. Shade Mountain” in 1770; it is taxed to him and his heirs from 1768 to 1782, when it is styled “Jacob’s (Land Jobbers),” and under his name and that of “Jobbers’ Land” it is carried up to 1796. It is located “on the waters of Licking creek” in 1792. Sometimes it is taxed to George Jacobs and “joining John Cunningham.” It had six hundred acres, and again eleven hundred acres warranted, and sometimes it was in three tracts. Jacobs lived in Philadelphia. Major William Beale, John Holmes, Thomas Say, Moses Bartrim, Jonathan Carmalt also had tracts “joining James Stewart on Licking Creek” in 1796. In 1772 two John Andersons are distinguished by “Licking creek” and Tuscarora.” A “lot in St. Tamany” is taxed to Abraham Wilson in 1799. William Campbell in 1829 lived in “Tar Hollow.” Rittenhouse in 1791 had “167 acres land deeded adjoining lands of Thomas Gallaher and lying on the top of a high hill, norwest and bewest of said Gallaher.” This was the Forge Hill, as Duncan McCormick had one hundred acres “joining Beale & Sterrett, Thomas Gallaher and Conrad Shuey.”
Fermanagh.—In 1769 Charles Cox has a tract “adj. Cedar spring ridge.” In 1767 Francis West had a tract “at Cedar Springs” and another “above ye Narrows.” About half of the Fermanagh list of 1767 is made up of settlers and land-owners “above the Narrows” in the present Mifflin County. The lower part was “in Mr. McClay’s district,” and the upper part “in Mr. Tea’s district.” They were the surveyors. William Wallace had large tracts in both. Isacher Beavens has land in 1770 “adj. Narrow’s Mt.,” and John Cox has a tract “adj. William Riddle in the forest.” Rev. Thomas Bartrim has three hundred acres “on Doe Run” in 1774; and John Wilkins on the same stream in 1772. In 1782 James Henderson had one tract “on Lick Ridge.” Peter Tysinger has two hundred and fifty acres “Barrens” in 1799. In 1791 James Hamilton, Esq., has land on “Heads of Lost Creek.” In 1794 James Purdy and William Magaw’s heirs also have tracts in that locality. Galbraith Patterson has a tract in 1794 “at the Roaring Spring.” This tract lay “between Tuscarora Mountain and Juniata River, west of Poultney’s land.” This long strip, south of the river, was part of Milford township prior to 1791. Peter Bright has land on “Heads of McCormick’s Run,” in 1794; and there are five thousand acres taxed to “Shade Mountain.” In 1799 the assessors say: “Harrison, William and 35 others in tracts of about 400 acres each on Shade Mountain. The whole of this land that is not valued is Mountain land, and we assessors can not with propriety lay any value on it.” In 1794 Samuel Jackson and John Martin’s heirs have lands “near Thompson’s Town.” So prominent an object and location as the island above Mifflintown only appears first in 1808, and is called “Harris’ island,” and again in 1810, when it is occupied for William Harris by William Nesbit; and passing to William Bell in 1814, is marked “island” after his name in 1819. No other mention of it is found on the lists, except that Christian Myers is marked “Island” in 1828.