DNS gn ESE THE BOROUGHS AND TOWNSHIPS OF CENTRE COUNTY. Brief Sketches of the Boroughs and Townships of Centre County Compiled from Authorized Publications.— The Story of the Organization and Early Settlers of Each Told in Teres Tales. The county is located in the geographical centre of the State—hence its name. It is bounded on the north by Clinton, on the east by Union and Mifflin, on the south by Huntingdon and Blair and on the west by Clearfield. It is about fifty-eight miles long and thirty-six wide, and has an area of one thousand three hundred and sev- enty square miles, making six hundred and seventy-eight thousand and four hundred: acres of land. It was originally divided into the following eight townships: Up- per Bald Eagle, Lower Bald Eagle, Centre, Haines, Miles. Patton, Potter and War- riors Mark, but now is composed of twenty-five townships and eight horoughs as fol- lows. Bellefonte Borough. The original plat of the town of Belle- fonte was laid altogether upon the Griffith Gibbon warrantee application of the 3rd of April, 1769, No. 248, surveyed July 20th, 1869, owned by Wm. Lamb, patented Feb- ruary 5th, 1794, and conveyed to John Dunlop, Nov. 3rd, 1797. Subsequent ex- tensions by the Brockerhoffs and the Valen- tines, on the east and on the south, were made on the Wm. Moore warrant. The town was laid out by Col. John Dunlop and James Harris, Esq., in 1795, the streets running east and west and north and south. The first house was erected by Col. John Dunlop, on lot No. 33 now occu- pied by Jacob Valentine, corner of Spring and West High streets, and it was the house in which the first court was held. John Hall erected the first blacksmith shop near the foot of Spring street. The town was named at the instance and by the suggestion of Mrs. James Harris, from the beautiful spring within its limits. The town was incorporated into a bor- ough March 28th, 1806. : In 1800 when Centre county was created, Milesburg and Bellefonte competed strong- ly for the honor of becoming the county- seat. Milesburg appeared to possess an ad- vantage in the fact that it «tood at the head of navigation on Bald Eagle creek, and as that circumstance seemed to operate materially in favor of Milesburg, the pro- prietors of Bellefonte were spurred to a more than ordinary effort to overcome it. In this emergency the tradition is that those interested in having the county-seat, attached a team to a flat boat having on board a lot of second-hand furniture (bor- rowed from some man’s house) and drag- ged the boat up Spring Creek as far as Bellefonte. That done, they hurried a messenger to Lancaster, armed with a properly attested affidavit that the first boat of the season, with freight aboard, had arrived at Bellefonte. This statement of facts appeared to indicate that Bellefonte and not Milesburg was at the head of nav- igation and being expeditiously pressed by parties in interest, it resulted in the passage of the Act making Bellefonte the County-seat. The census in Bellefonte Borough in 1890 was 4,070 an increase of 1,000 over that of 1880. The population of Centre county entire for 1890 was 43,190, an increase of 5,268 over that of 1880. — Centre Hall Borough. In 1846 Henry Witmer built the first improvement of anv consequence in Centre Hall, a large building occupied as a hotel and store, whose site was marked by an old log school house. It became a post-of- fice station the same year. The Penns Valley Banking company was organized to do business at Centre Hall, April 1st, 1873. The village is located on the turnpike con- necting Lewistown with Bellefonte and is well supplied with water by the Borough's own plant. John Hoffer laid out the prin- cipal part of the town in 1867-8, on his farm gotten from his father, Christian Hoft- er, in 1862. ‘‘Centre Hall Station” was laid out in September, 1884. by John B. Linn for the heirs of Mary P. Wilson and Gen. James A. Beaver. The borough was incorporated, including Centre Hall station by decree of Court September 12th, 1385. eee / Howard Borough, The Borough of Howard is situated in Bald Eagle Valley, fifteen miles from Lock Haven and eleven and one-half miles from Bellefonte. The first house on the site was built by Wm. Tipton in 1800. The first store there was started by H. B. Packer, a brother of Governor Packer, in 1830. The Howard Iron Works were located near the town as early as 1829. The canal was com- pleted to Howard in 1837 and is now con- nected with commerce by the Bald Eagle Valley railroad. The town was in- corporated into a borough by Act of As- sembly of May 3rd, 1864. eee Milesburg Borough. The town plan of Mileshurg was survey- ed in the year 1793 by direction of Colonel Samuel Miles, of Philadelphia. Tt was the site of an Indian village known as ‘‘Bald Eagle’s Nest,’’ having been the home of the Indian Chief Bald Eagle. Andrew Boggs was the first settler of the locality in 1769. The Erie turnpike was completed from Milesburg over the Allegheny mount. ains in 1822 and in 1847 the Pald Eagle canal opened to Milesburg. In 1864 the Bald Eagle vallley railroad was confpleted and after the flood of 1865 the canal was abandoned. The post-office at Milesburg was established March 13th, 1797, the first post office in the territory of Centre county and Joseph Green appointed postmaster. By the Act of March 3rd, 1842, Mileshurg was incorporated as a borough. +00 Millheim Borough. The town was laid out by Philip Gunkle in 1798. Two old mills occupied a portion of the site of this town, Gunkle’s and Hab- ler’s. This fact suggested the name of the town, Millheim; home of the mills, As early as 1802 it had ahout fifty inhabitants. In 1826 the turnpike was extended to Mill- heim from Mifflinburg, and in January, 1879. it was made a borough by a decree of Court. In 1879 the Millheim turnpike road, connecting the borough with the Lewisburg and Tyrone railroad at Coburn station, was laid out. rte AY rman Philipsburg Borough. Philipsburg, on the east bank of the Moshannon creek, the houndary line be-. tween Centre and Clearfield counties, was laid out by Henry and James Philips’ di- ‘rection in 1795. The first important im- provements were made by Hardman Philips who arrived in 1809. He built a screw The Old Mud Church.— This historic relic of the days gone by stands on Pres- queisle street, Philipsburg, in one of the prettiest residence portions of the town. It was huilt as a Union meeting house, eacly in the century, on the lot which Lord Hardman Philips the founder of the town, bequeathed to Philipsburg as a burial place forever. 8 The church and the cemetery are con- spicuous there today and are kept up by a commission of ladies who are elected at the regular spring elections for that purpose. factory, which was the first factory of the kind in the United States. As early as 1830 he secured a charter of a railroad in- tended to connect Philipshurg with Hunt- ingdon. Thirty-three years, however, elapsed before Philipshurg was connected with the outside world by railroad, which was accomplished by the Tyrone and Clear- field railroad in 1863. The Borough of Philipsburg was incorporated by a decree of Court November 29th, 1864, and was subsequently divided into three Wards. | - State College Borough. State College Borough was erected on Aug. 26th, 1896, out of College Township. The demand for incorporation as a borough grew out of the remarkable growth of the village of State College under the stimulus of being an exceptional educational centre. Thongh the youngest borough in the coun- ty it numbers among its public improve- ments well graded streets and side walks, a splendid water system, electric light, two good hotels, drug store, a number of gen- eral merchandise establishments and very commodious Presbyterian and Methodist churches. a ate ne Unionville Borough. The Borough of Unionville is a station upon the Bald Eagle Valley railroad with post office designation of ‘‘Fleming.”’ The site of the borough was purchased in 1843 by Zephaniah Underwood. who in connec- tion with his son William laid it out in town lots in 1848. John Peters subse- quently laid out an addition to it. It was incorporated as a borough by a decree of the Court December 3rd, 1859, and the Bald Eagle Valley railroad was completed through it as early as 1864. Fleming post office was established hefore the town was laid out and it retains that designation. ree mre Benner Township. Benner Township, so named from one of Centre county’s most distinguished pion- eers, joins Spring on the west, Union and Spring on the north, Patton, Harris and College on the south, Spring and Potter on the east, and Patton and Union on the west. The township was erected at April term, 1853. In 1875 a corner of the sec- ond portion was detatched and set off to the newly created township of College. Nittany mountain lies on the southeast, and Muncy mountain on the northern border. Otherwise the township is rolling. Spring Creek and Buffalo Run pass through the township. On the former there isa good water power. Logan’s Branch rises in Benner. in what is known as the Blue Spring. Ore is found in ‘some places, and and at an early day was mined to some ex- tent. Population in 1890 was 1,222. ee Aly Boggs Township. Boggs was formed by a division of Spring Township in 1814, and had in 1880 a pep- ulation of about two thousand one hun- dred, and an assessed valuation of three hundred and six thousand one hundred and twenty-eight dollars. Its boundaries are Snow Shoe and Curtin on the north, Spring and Union on the south, Curtin ‘and Howard on the east, Union and Snow Shoe on the west. Much of the territory is rough and a great deal of it is mountain- ous and much yet a stranger to the plow of the husbandmen. Timber tracts were plentiful, and from them great quantities of charcoal were annually taken for use at the iron works at Milesburg and Curtin. Charcoal-burning was an industry of no small consequence. Along the course of the creek passes the line of the Bald Eagle Valley railroad, which at Central City sends out a branch line to Bellefonte and a short distance ahove Mileshurg inter- sects with the Bellefonte and Snow Shoe railroad. At Milesburg the Bald Eagle re- ceives the waters of Spring Creek, and along its length in Boggs possesses mill- power of no small value. The vilinges are Central City and Curtin, both stations on the Bald Eagle Valley railroad, Runville and Snow Shoe Intersection. The population in 1890 was 2,042. Burnside Township, The wild and mountainous character of fand in Burnside township was a bar to _early settlers and we find no trouble in title occurs there arising from old settlers’ surveys. The northwestern portion was taken up under warrants of July 31st. 1792, in the names of Walter Stuart (sita- ated on the south side of the West Branch, opposite a deer lick) William Stuart Jr., ‘‘opposite the mough of Little Moshan- non’’ (as the creek coming into the river from the northward at Karthaus was then called,) Deborah Stuart, by Aaron Levy. Directly east of these Stuart warrants were laid the Boudinot surveys. so called, hav- ing been devised by Mr. Boudinot to the city of Philadelphia for the support of the poor, and by reason of much litigation has proved an exceedingly costly bequest. These warrants are dated Aug. 6th, 1794. At the April sessions in 1856, certain citizens of Snow Shoe living in the north- ern half petitioned for a division of the township. The commissioners who were ‘appointed reported at the August sessions H. Holt. There the townships line crosses ‘the Karthaus road, and passes in a straight line nearly southwest and northeast. The report was confirmed at the November ses- sious in 1856, and the place of election fixed at the Pine Glenn school house. The population in 1890 was 530. : ———_ Ap College Township. The oldest surveys are upon application .of Benjamin Bayless and Samuel Bayless Sr.. and Samuel Bayless Jr., dated Aug. 24th, 1766, and surveyed - June 4th, 1767, about fifty rods west of Oak Hall Foundry, | which is located on the Robert Roberts ap- plication, Dec. 23rd, 1766, surveyed June 2nd, 1767, north af the Benjamin Bayless Sr., the creek running northerly about mid-way throught it; noith of the Samuel Bayless St., the Samuel Bayless Jr., and ‘| northwestward of the latter Joseph Hop- kins, in which Slab Cabin unites with Spring Creek. : College Township, so-called because The Pennsylvania State College is located within its bounds, was erected from Har- ris and Benner Townships, August 30th, 1875. It is remarkable for its number of little villages and hamlets, among which areLemont, Oak Hall, Hounserville and State College. Settlements were made within the township at a very early date. Jacob Houser was there as early as 1788 and Rob- ert Moore was there before him. Chris- tian Dale began a settlement near Oak Hall as early as 1790, and David Whitehill settled where the village of Lemont now stands in 1789. Col. John Patton, in con-. nection with Col. Samuel Miles erected Centre Furnace in the fall of 1791. Oper- ation at Centre Furnace was continued un- sil the year 1858. Pennsylvania State College is the distinguishing feature of the township now. Population of College in 1890, 1,666. re is Curtin Township. Curtin Township was formed by a divis- ion of Howard Township November 25th, 1857, the dividing being along the top of Marsh Creek dividing ridge. Beech Creek and Clinton county divide it on the north- east. Among the first settlers of the terri- tory were John and Nicholas Lucas, who came from Maryland, and there are now in Centre county more people of the family name of Lucas than of any other. In 1840 John Packer erected the first saw mill within the territory of Curtin and in 1842 raised the first frame barn therein. It is watered by Beech and Marsh creeks and has now a post office, Romola. within its J Population in 1860, 237; in 1870, ; borders. 459; in 1880, 624; in 1890, 546. OS scion Ferguson Township. Ferguson Township, was so named in honor of Thomas Ferguson who was a pio- neer settler and built the first mill at what is now the village of Pine Grove Mills. The township was erected at January Ses- sions, 1801, out of Patton. Captain Geo. Meek, a Revolutionary soldier, (ancestor to P. Gray Meek, editor of the DrM- OCRATIC WATCHMAN) was also a pioneer settler in Ferguson township territory. In 1810 William: Patton, son of Gen. John Patton, built Tussey Furnace at Pine Grove Mills. It ceased operation in 1815. Ferguson Township is remarkable now for its numerous beds of iron ore, developed and undeveloped, though there are no fur- naces now within its boarders. Large amounts of ore have been mined about Gatesburg, which was settled at an early period by the Gates, Rider and Rumberger families. Population in 1850, 1601; 1860, 1784; 1870, 2,111; 1880, 1817; 1890, 1748. ee Gregg Township. Gregg Township was erected in Novem- ber, 1826, out of portions of Potter, Miles and Haines township and named in honor of Hon. And. Gregg who had heen a member of Congress from 1791 for sixteen years and United States Senator from 1807 to 1813. Its earliest settlers were George Woods in 1774, and George McCormick who settled at Spring Mills in 1773 and built the first mill there. It is a rich agri- cultural township. Penn’s Creek rises in the northern portion, its source a minia- ture lake in a cave. Penn Cave is now a noted place of resort. Township post-offi- ces are Spring Mills, Farmers Mills and Penn Hall. Population in 1850, 1,473 in 1860, 1,556;in 1870, 1,636; in 1880, 1,795; in 1890, 1,688. 00 Haines Township. Haines Township was erected while part of the territory of Centre county was vet in Northumberland county, in February, 1790, and so called after Reuben Haines, a brewer of Philadelphia, who owned large [the same year marking the line of division | at a point just west of the residence of J. bodies of land in the township. Its valley surveys date back to 1766, and among its earliest settlers were Adam Harper, Jacob and Adam Stover. Its oldest village, Aaronshurg, was laid out by Noah Levy in’ 1786. James Duncan was the first store- keeper, and a post office was established in Aaronsburg, April 1st, 1798, and Mr. Dun- can appointed post master. It now econ- sists of two precincts, East and West. The first resident physician was Dr. Klep- per, who was succeeded in 1811 by Dr. Charles Coburn. The first settler on the site of Woodward was John Motz in 1786, and the valley was laid out in 1848. Pop- ulation in 1860, 1,510; in 1870, 1,354; in 1880, 1,422; in 1880, 1,490. ——— Harris Township. ‘Harris Township was erected out of Fer- .guson, Potter and Spring at-April Sessions, ‘1835, and was named in compliment to James Harris, a prominent citizen ot Belle- fonte, and.a noted land surveyor. Its ter- ritory was considerably diminished by the creation of College township in 1875. Among its earliest settlers were Jacob Jack, Michael Jack, James Watson, John Irvin, James Galbrait i, ete., and its earliest sur- veys date back to 1767. Its oldest village, Boalsburg, was laid ont by Andrew Stroup, December 10th, 1810, and Boalshurg Aca- demy was erected in 1853. Its other vil- lage, Linden Hall, is situated on the Lew- isburg and Tyrone railroad. The Bear Meadows located in the southern end of the township is an interesting feature of the township and now the scene of exten- sive lumber operations. Population in 1850, 1,954; 1860, 1,949; 1870, 1,999; 1880, 942; 1890, 869. A Es Howard Township. Howard Township was erected at Janu- ary Sessions 1810, by dividing what was i then Centre township and called Howard as a tribute of respect to the great philan- thropist, John Howard. Survey was made «in the territory of Howard as early as No- vember, 1769, and the earliest settler was David DeLong, who located where the vil- lage of Howard now stands in 1778. Capt. Thomas Askey was also an early settler. James Packer, father of Gov. Wm. F. Pack- er, buils a mill in the territory of Howard as early as 1793. Howard sownship orig- inally embraced Curtin, Liberty and parts of Boggs, Snow Shoe and Burnside Town- ships. Howard Borough was erected out of it May 6th, 1894. Mountain Eagle is a village poss office in Howard Township. Howard iron works were first erected in 1829 by the Harrises. Population in 1850, 1,292: in 1860, 1.106; in 1870, 875; in 1880, 947; in 1890, 940. ——— en Huston Township. Huston Township was erected at August Sessions. 1838, by a division of Patton Township and called in honor of Hon. Chas. Huston, a former President Judge of the District. The earliest settler in the territory of Huston was Thomas Parsons in 1784, who was followed by David Kil- gour, and the Williams family is the most numerons of present residents. The vil- lage of Julian, a station on the Bald Eagle Valley railroad, resulted from the estab- lishment of Julian furnace on its site in 1837 by General James Irvin. It isa great point of shipment for lumber. Martha furnace was established hy Roland and James Curtin in 1830. Nothing remains of either furnaces except their sites and the names, preserved by post offices and sta- tions at the respective localities. Popula- tion of Huston Township in 1850, 375; in in 1860, 633; in 1870, 863; in 1830, 892; in 1890, 766. : ate Liberty Township. Liberty Township is bounded on the east by Beech Creek; Marsh Creek runs through its centre and Bald Eagle creek through the southern portion. Its village is Eagle- ville, or Blanchard, the latter being the post office and station name. Surveys within its territory were made as early as July, 1769. Among its earliest settlers were John Marsden, Christian Bechdel, the Kunes, Gardeners, ete., ete. The township was erected at August Sessions. 1845. In 1832 Elder Nathan J. Mitchell organized the first Society of Disciples in the territory and a meeting house was erected near Eagleville shortly afterward; and the same year Eagleville was laid out in town lots by Solomon Strong and Dr. Roberts and the first house erected thereon by Michael Brickley. Population in 1850, 387; in 1860, 748; in 1870, 1,062: in 1880, 1,284; in 1890, 1,244. a EE Marion Township. The first permanent settler of the terri- tory of Marion was Thomas Wilson, who came into the valley in 1785. He was fol- lowed by the MeCalmonts and McEwens, David Lamb, James Hutchinson, Hugh McClelland, ete., and Lick Run Presbyter- ian church was organized in October, 1798. Its village is Jacksonville, its post office name Walker. Marion Township was erected hy a decree of Court of August, 26th, 1840, by dividing Walker township by a line along the top of Nittany ridge. There is considerable iron ore of good quality in the township. Popu- lation of Marion Township in 1850, 595; in 1860, 661; in 1870, 823; in 1880, 674; in 1890, 611. Miles Township. Miles township embraces Brush Valley proper, the arable portion of which was taken up by warrants by Colonel ‘Samuel ‘Aaronsburg.—A birds-eye view of Aaronsburg, the oldest town in the county. It was laid out'by Aaron Levy in October, 1786. It is truly an old fashioned town and its wide streets, town pump, and peaceful, placid atmosphere ar: present reminders of an historical past. Miles, whose name is preserved in that of the township. Surveys on these warrants were made in 1773 and 1774. It was set- tled 3 by Pennsylvania Germans of Luther- an and Reformed creed and the firet church in the valley was erected where Rebers- burg now stends in 1804-5. The church records of births and baptisms dates back to July 9th, 1792. Rebersburg, the. prin- ‘cipal town, was laid out in 1809 by Conrad Reber. The first mill at (Centre Mills) in the township was erected by Mr. Kreamer prior to 1798. Miles township was organ- ized in 1797 by -a decree of the court of Northumberland county and is one of the original townships of Centre county. Its post offices are Madisonburg, Centre Mills, Wolf’s Store and Rebersburg. Population of Miles township in 1850, 1,306; in 1860, 1,147; in 1870, 1,325; in 1880, 1.512; in 1890, 1,438. Halfmoon Township. Half moon township was erected at Jan- nar Sessions, 1802. Abram Elder was the first settler in its territory in the year 1784. A Quaker settlement was [ormed within its limits as early as 1492 when George Wil- son came into the valley. Among the early settlers were Benjamin Way, Caleb Way, Isaac and Thomas Moore, John Spen- cer, etc. The township is noted for ids iron ore deposits. Stormstown was its earliest village, laid out by Jacob Storm early in the present century. Jacob Lebo was its first storekeeper and Abram Elder’s tavern a noted landmark of the valley. The village of Loveville was founded in 1855 by James Love. Population in 1850, 714; in 1860, 703; in 1870, 698; in 1880, 563; in 1890, 748. ieee Patton Township. Patton Township was called in honor of John Patton, a Revolutionary officer, (who resided at now Centre Furnace) and was erected while the territory was in Mifflin county, as early as 1794. The Gray and Hartsock families were the carliest settlers who came in 1788 from Frederick county, Maryland. Iron mining was begun at an early day in this township to supply ore to Centre Furnace, the first iron furnace built in the county. The Township is still rich in iron ore, the famous Scotia mines of the Bellefonte Furnace Co. being located there. The first settlers of Pat- ton were Methodists, which is the pre- vailing creed yet. The Bellefonte Central railroad to Bellefonte, and Lewis- burg & Tyrone railroad to Tyrone are the ‘outlets of the ore products. Quite a busy hamlet known as Scotia sprung up in this township through the mining operations of Carnegie brothers of Pittsburg. Popu- lation in 1850, 453; in 1860, 664; in 1870, 721; in 1880, 761; in 1890, 1,045. oe Penn Township. Penn Township was erected by a decree of Court on the 30th of November, 1844. Brush mountain forms its northern boun- dary, Haines Township is on the east and Gregg Township is on the west, and its southern portion extends into the Seven mountains. Its principal village is Coburn, a station on the Lewisburg and Tyrone rail- road at the forks of the Penns and Pine creeks, Millheim, within the township lim- its being now a Borough. A turnpike road runs from Millheim to Coburn, constracted 1879. Surveys were made in_the territory of Penn Township as early as October, 1766, and if had settlers, among them Sam- uel Hoy, John Wall and John Livingston, as early as 1773 and 1774, and one of its later prominent citizens was Hon. Jacob Kryder. Population in 1860, 1,054; in 1870, 1,158; in 1880, 814; in 1890, 978. Gl Potter Township. Potter Township, one of the original townships of Centre county, was erected at May Sessions 1774, while the territory was in Northumberland county, and was called after Gen. James Potter, one of its earliest settlers. Potter’s Old Fort is within its present limits. The turnpike from Lewistown to Bellefonte runs through it from south to north, meeting the turn- pike from Lewisburg at the Old Fort tav- ern. Its villages now are Centre Hill and Potters Mills, Colyer and Tusseyville, all post offices. Grange Park, belonging to the Patrons of Husban- dry, is located within its limits, adjoining Centre Hall station on the Lewisburg and Tyrone railroad. Progress Grange, No 96, P. of H., was organized February 12th, 1873. Hon. Leonard Rhone is now general manager at the park. The township has two precincts, North and South. Popula- tion in 1850. 2,216; in 1860, 2,223; in 1870, 2,378; in 1880, 2,375; in 1890, 1764. Pop- ulation of Centre Hill in 1880, 108; of Pot- ters Mills, 180. S——— yr eee — Rush Township. Rush Township, the largest in area, lies on the southwestern side of the county, bounded on the west by Moshannon creek. Philipsburg, its emporium formerly, is now a Borough. The principal surveys in'its territory were made in 1793 and 1794. It is now traversed by the Tyrone and Clear- field railroad and the extension of the Vanderbilt or Beech Creek system railroad irom Jersey Shore. At Sandy: Ridge there are extensive fire brick works. The township is'divided in- to two precincts, North and South pre- cincts. Osceola Station, Powelton. and Sandy Ridge are its stations on the Tyrone and Clearfield Railroad. Rush Township was erected in April Sessions, 1814, out of Half Moon and called in honor of Benja- min Rash. Tt is noted for its rich deposits of coal and fire clay. Population of Rhsh Township in 1850, 371; in 1860, 680; in 1970, 1,963; in 1880, 1,591; in 1890, 2,- Settee Apes a— Snow Shoe Township. Snow Shoe Township was erected out of Boggs Township January 27th, 1840. Sur- veys were made iu this township as early as 1773 known as the ‘‘Snow Shoe Camp Surveys.”’: The remainder of the lands were not appropriated until 1792 and 1793. The first permanent settler was John Bechdol in May, 1818. The wild lands ‘were principally owned by the Gratzs. subsequently by the Snow Shoe Land Association. Moshannon village was laid out in 1849 by James Gilliland. Snow Shoe village is a noted summer resort and was laid out in 1858. It is 850 feet above Bellefonte and about 2,000 feet above tide water. The township is remarkable for the amount of coal contained within its limits. Its outlets are the Snow Shoe railroad to Bellefonte and the Beech Creek road. Population of Snow Shoe Township in 1850, 4382; in 1860, 505; in 1870, 1,162; in 1880; 1,410; in 1890, 2,397. Spring Township. The name of Upper Bald Eagle Town- ship was changed in 1801 to that of Spring, | Potter's Old Fort.—The historic old spot on which Bellefonte Chapter D. A. R. erect- ed the above marker on June 9th, 1898, is the same on which the famous old Indian Fort, known as Potter’s, was built in 1777. It was a stockade fort, built square with an inner and an outer stockade enclosure —one for the shelter of families in times of danger and the other for live stock—no set- tler having more than one or two cows and a horse, which answered all their wants, consequently few animals needed shelter. The famous Indian spring at the foot of the eminence upon which the fort stood, was about ten rods distant; a stockade pas- sage led from the foot of the spring, to pro- tect the occupants in going to and from it for water, for men and for animals, at times when Indians were likely to be hidden he- hind trees watching for an opportunity to shoot any of the inhabitants of the Fort, if venturing out. The spring is still the source of water supply for the village of Old Fort. The first forts were built by the settlers in 1777—the Potter’s Fort, and afterwards minor forts in the vicinity of Kreider’s mill, in Penn township, and another in Haines township. About 1780 the settlers fled on account of the Indians, most of them returning to Penns valley again about 1784. a very appropriate name on account of the numerous large springs within its limits. This township is noted for its iron furnaces, lime industries, scale works, ete. John Dunlop erected a forge as early as 1798 near the borough limits of Bellefonte. He was succeeded by the Valentines and Thomas in 1815. These works have been rebuilt and modernized and have been op- erated successively by the Centre Iron Co., the Valentine Iron Co., and the Empire Steel & Iron Co. Mann’s Axe factory was started on Logan Branch at now village of Axemann by William and Harvey Mann in 1828. Population of Spring Town- ship in 1850, 1,280; in 1860, 1,461; in 1870, 1,608; in 1880, 2,238; in 1890, 3,190. ne Gp Taylor Township. The land in Taylor Township was, for the most part, taken up on warrants in the vears 1792 and 1793. The first settler in the territory was William Birge. The Vaughn brothers came there first in the vear 1792—Richard, Joseph and Benjamin Vaughn. Elijah Merriman also came with them. Hannah Furnace was built in 1832 but has not been in operation for many years. Among its present residents is John T. Fowler, who in 1871 commenced large lumber operations. The township was organized by a decree of court dated January 27th, 1847, out of Half Moon township. Populution of Taylor Town- ship in 1850, 349; in 1860, 351; in 1870, 512; in 1880, 617; in 1850, 577. rie AA reas Union Township. Union Township was erected by a decree of Court dated November 29th, 1850, out of Boggs Township. Its northern portion lies along the Allegheny mountains and is traversed by Dick’s run, Dewitt’s ron and McCormick’s run, which empty into Bald Eagle Creek, which flows through the southern portion of Union Township. Among the early settlers of the territory were Martin and John Hoover, John Irvin, a Friend from Chester county, Leonard Peters, of Lancaster county, Wm. Blair, Wm. Campbell, ete. The Philadelphia and Erie turnpike passed through its ter- ritory and there were some noted taverns on this turnpike: John Hoover’s, Archy Moore's and the ‘‘Rattlesnake,’’ kept by Benjamin Bennet at an early day, which have all disappeared with the change in public improvements. Population of Union Township in 1860, 548; in 1870, 847; in 1880, 1,086; in 1890, 820. —— te Walker Township. Walker Township is situated in Nittany Valley proper, and is traversed by Little Fishing Creek. Its villages are Zion, Hublers- burg, Snydertown Nittany, and Mingoville and it has considerable iron ore deposits. The township was erected at Jannary Ses- sions, 1810, and called for the then Presi- dent Judge Jonathan H. Walker. The earliest settlers were the McEwens, Wm. McKee, John Harbison, Wm. McKean, brother of U. 8. Senator Samuel McKean, ete. Hublersburg was laid out by Jacob Bowlander for Jacob Hubler, May 10th, 1832. Hecla furnace, at Logan’s Gap, was built by Judge Isaac McKinney in 1825; nothing femaining of it now but the site, and farming is now the main occupation of the inhabitants of Walker township. Pop- ulation of Walker township in 1850, 1,221; in 1860, 1,587; in 1870, 1,356: in 1880, 1,- 467; in 1890, 1,333. : *0 Worth Toyvuship. Surveys on the Bald Eagle creek in the territory of Worth were made as early as May 17th, 1770, but its whole territory is nearly covered by the Gratz block of sur- veys of July, 1793. Cyrus Cartwright made the first improvement about 1785 where Daniel Frantz now lives. George Records; George Ardry and Wm. Kelly were among its early settlers. © The pioneer grist mill was erected by Abram Elder in 1806 in the western end of the township. Its principal village, Port Matilda, was laid out in 1850 by Clement Beckwith Esq. ‘The township was erected out of Taylor by a decree of Court, July 27th, 1848, and called Worth in honor of Gen. Worth, one of the heroes of the war with ‘Mexico. Population of Worth Township ‘in 1850, 302; in 1860 246; in 1870, 650; in 1880, 808; in 1890, 840.
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