Altera
VOLUME 3.
McCONNELLSHUKG, PA., JULY 17, 1902.
NUMBER 44.
FOR THE BOTS AND GIRLS.
"Little Fulton" Chat Familiarly
About Herself.
While Pennsylvania contains an
area of about 45 thousand square
miles, it was thought by those
who organized it in 1782 one
hundred and tweuty years ago
that three counties were quite
enough; and so, the territory wo
now call Fulton county was then
covered by the wings of Chester
county. Well, we lived with the
Chester county people and got
along well enough uutilone morn
ing in May 1729, when we arose
from our beds, wo found oursel
ves in Lancaster county. Settle
ments had extonded westward
from the Delaware until there
were a large number of people
living in Chester county who
thought they might cut loose from
the mother county. They peti
tioned for a new organization and
they got it, the new county was
called Lancaster, and we were in
it. Against the Lancaster county
people we had no cause for com
plaiut, and we soon felt quite at
homo with our Dutch neighbors ;
and we might have been in Lan
caster county yet had it not been
for a few fellows who thought it
would bo easier to make some
new offices, than to undertake to
get one of the old ones; so, in re
sponse to a petition, a big slice of
territory was cutoff of Lancaster
county, and called Cumberland
county, and when the change was
made we found if we were drawn
on the jury that we would have to
go to Carlislo to court. The
change that took us out of Lan
caster and put us into Cumber
land was made Januury 27, 1750.
We lived in Cumberland county
twenty-one years, or until March
it, 1771, when a big slice was cut
off Cumberland to make Bedford
county, and we found ourselves
ju Bedford county. We were
getting used to boing knocked
ii round by this time;and we would
not have been greatly surprised,
some nice morning, had we found
ourselves in Canada, or in Mary
land. Old Mother Bedford was good
tousaud we staid with her for 80
years,' wondering where we would
find ourselves next, until it oc
curred to some of our enterpris
lug people to set up business for
ourselves;' and, instead of being
a tail to somebody else's kite, wo
would cut loose and sail on our
own account have a county of
our own. Somebody mentioned
it and somebody else said, "Why
didu't we think of that before?"
A petition was drawn up, a
number of signers obtained, it
was seut down to the legislature
ut Harrisburg, and the legislature
said that they had no objection ;
and, that if it was the wish of a
majority of the people in the ter
ritory of the proposed new county
to have an organization of their
own, they shojjld have it.
The legislature then passed an
net which was approved by the
governor April 19,180, and some
of its provisions are as follows :
1. David Mann, Jr.,Peter Dona
hoe, and Andrew J. Fore wore
named to run and mark the boun
dary lines of the new county and
to receive subscriptions of monoy
nnd material toward defraying
the expenses of purchasing lots
and erecting the public buildings,
and also to locate the seat of jus
tice, provided that they should lo
cate it at the place which will pay
or secure to be paid, the most
mouey toward tho orocti' n of the
public buildings.
2. June 22, 18j0 was named as a
day upon which a special election
should be held to give the people
a chance to say whether or not a
majority wanted the new county.
3. Tho act required that a sum
not less than $8000 should be
raised by this voluntary subscrip
tion, but McConnellsburg came
forward with 1.300 this amount
including both money and mate
rials. To secure the payment of
this money, a judgment bond in
double, the Bum was given, and
James Agnow, Thomas Great
head, W. Scott Fletcher, Henry
Hoke, John W. Bohn, Dr. S. E.
Du fiield, Jacob S toner, Mark Dick
son, Elias Davidson, James Kay,
Daniel B'ore, William Keyser, John
Cook, James Kendall, Thomas Lo
gan, F. W. McNaughton,. William
Cooper, Daniel Logan, and J hn
Kettle all went on the bond.
Harrisonville, Fort Littleton, ami
McConnellsburg went into tho
contest, and McConnellsburg
won.
4. The act provided that an
election should be held the second
Tuesday in October 1850 to chooso
county officers, if the majority
was in favor of a county at the
special election in June.
Well, the time for tho special
election in June came on, and
with it a good deal of excitement.
The eastern part was strongly in
favor of the new county while tho
western part, including Thomp
son, Bethel, and Belfast, was
greatly opposed, or at least indif
ferent; but, when the polls were
closed and the vote counted, it
was found that there were about
twice as many for, as against.
The vote stood as follows :
For Against
Ayr 165 , .none
Belfast 58 .: 49
Bethel 12 202
Brush Creek 2 57
Dublin 57 12
Licking Creek.. .155 4
McConnellsburg. .90 ,1
Taylor 75 18
Thompson 46 54
Tod 76 ..3
Wells 46 8
Total 782 403
When our people asked for a
new county, they expressed tho
desire that it should be called
"Liberty," and the original draft
of the bill in the house at Harris
burg provided for that name, but
in the senate the passage of the
bill depended upon Senator Pack
er of Lycoming county who final
ly agreed to support the measure
if he be allowed to name the coun
ty. There did not seem to be
anything else to do, and tho new
county became Fulton instead of
Liberty.
They call me "Little Fulton,"
just as though I was the smallest
county in the State, which U not
the case, however ; for, if you will
examine the map you will find
that of the 67 counties 17 or
more than one-fourth of the num
ber of counties in Pennsylvania
are smaller than I. "Little" does
not apply to me in point of age,
for I have four younger sisters,
namely, Montour, Snyder, Cam
eron, and Lackawanna, the last
named of which is the baby, it
having been born in 1878 and be
came of age about three years
ago. While Lackawanna is the
youngest she is a healthy old girl
for she boasts of a population
nearly twenty times as great as
ours.
If they call me little because
my family decreased in point of
numbers during the last census
decade, I would remind you that,
"there are others." If you will
take the trouble to examine the
census reports of 1900, you will
find that thirteen counties besides
myself, went back in population
from 1890 to 1900, and they all
have a railroad, too. Here are
their names : Cameron, Center,
Clarion, Huntingdon, Juniata,
Montour, Perry, Pike, Snyder,
Susquehanna, Tioga, Union and
Wayne. The county having the
smallest population is Cameron,
with 8766 people, 1158 less than
Fulton.
P. S.
The United States consists of
45 states and 7 territories, with a
population of 76,803,387. The
population of Pennsylvania Is
6,802,115, and of Fulton county,
9,924.
Of Fulton county Ayr township
has the largest population, 1310;
and Wells the smallest, 694. Dur
ing the first 14 years of her exist
ence, Fulton, had 10 townships,
and 1 borough. January 9, 1864,
Union township, tho eleventh and
youngest township, was formed
from a part of Bethel.
Teachers Re-elected.
At a meeting of the Borough
school board last week, our old
teachers were all ro elocted for
tho ensuing year. We do not
mean by the term old that there
is any evidence of senility or de
crepitude about them for they are
as active and progressive a set of
instructors as may be found any
where. This is proven by the
fact that they are re elected from
year to year. Three out of the
four teachers have been happily
married since they began to teach
in the McConnellsburg schools,
and there is no restrictions iD the
article of agreement which the
board has with the fourth to de
bar any such proceeding. Don't
all apply for schools in McCon
nellsburg next year.
The term was fixed at eight
months, and schools will open
Monday September - 1. The
schools to which each was assign
ed, the name of teacher, and sal
ary, is as follows : Primary, Miss
Elsie Greathead, $35.00 ; Inter
mediate, Emery Thomas, $35.00 ;
Grammar, L. H. Wible, $40.00;
High School, E. M. Gress, $42.00.
Tax rate 5 mills.
Wells Tannery.
John. A. Wishart, who has been
ill for several weeks, is slowly
convalescing.
Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Meredith re
cently spent several days in tho
southeastern part of the county.
Mr. Meredith was looking after
some of the fine timber in that
section.
Clarence Stewart of Pittsburg,
is visiting his parents, Mr. and
Mrs. Geo. A. Stewart.
Mrs. Laura Hoke and childreu
of McConnellsburg spont Sunday
with her parents, Mr. and Mrs.
W. II. Spangler.
W. L. Woodcock of Hollidays
burg accompanied by Mr. McKin
ney and Mr. Cooper of Pittsburg
visited our valley a few days ago
looking after timber for charcoal.
Howard Wishart of Huntingdon
visited his parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Harvey Wishart the 10th inst.
Howard has tired of the old Key
stone state, hence has gone to
Denver, Colorado, where he has
promise of profitable employment
His family will follow later.
Miss Isabella Petagrew, of Ev
erett, spent a week very pleasant
ly with her friend Miss Alice
Wishart.
Mrs. Mary Eichelberger and
brother Bert Sweet, of Saxton
are visiting friends hero.
Rev. Burger and two daughters
of Bellville, passed through our
valley enroute from a visit in Fay
ette county. Mr. Burger preach
ed a most excellent sermon for us
in the Presbyterian church.
Mrs. Fannie Spangler and two
daughters of Mercersburg, are
visiting in the home of their
uncle, G. W. Sipes.
Mrs. Figart and Miss Kegarice
of Laidig, spent Sunday with Mr.
and Mrs. Frank Sprowl.
George Sprowl, of Pittsburg,
visited a few of his dear friends
in our village recently.
Mrs. Cline of Sandy Run spent
Sunday with her father, Thomas
Gates.
Dexter, a valuable driving horse
owned by W. H. Baumgardner,
died of colic a fow nights ago.
Though 25 years old, every person
who hired a horse, prefered him,
as ho was a fine traveler, and per
fectly safe.
Saluvia.
John C. Deshong who has boon
employed in the hemlock bark
woods in Somerset county has re
turned to his homo.
Mrs. Lewis Spousler, of Ever
ett is visiting her sister Mrs. S.
Jackson Deshong.
George McDonald, who is em
ployed on a telegraph lino iu Som
erset county returned to his work
after spending a'short vacation
with his family at this place last
week.
James G. Patterson and Miss
Minnie Relsner of McConnolls
burg were guests at the Green
Hill House last Wednesday.
Elmer Peck, representing the
National Grocery company of
Martinsburg, W. Va., a regular
patron of the Greou Hill House,
was calling on our merchants
last week.
Sixteen of McConnellsburg's
popular young ladies and gentle
men spent a pleasant day at their
annual picinic at 'TheRocks' near
Harrisonville, last Wednesday.
Miss Jenuio Carson, who re
cently returned from au extend
ed visit among relatives at Ellens
burg, Washington, and Denver,
Colorado ; and Miss Lillie Grove,
of McConnellsburg are rustic i
ting at the G reen Hill House.
Merrill W. Nace, of McCon
nellsburg who has gone to Colo
rado, on a two months tour, loft
his two valuable bird dogs in the
care of Thomas S. Metzler, at
Ilarrisonvillo, during his absence.
' The two-horse team of Mr. Tate
teamster of Brush Creek Lumber
company, which was beiog driven
by his little son ran off last Thurs
day morning when near the Rus
sell farm and collided with a tele
graph pole breaking the wagon,
and Injuring one of tho horses.
The little driver escaped injury.
Mr. Tate is hauling large loads of
hay and corn from the "Egypt"
of Fulton county.
Through an oversight we failed
to note last week that Nat Wish
art, an employee of the Johnstown
Tribune, was spending a two
weeks' vacation with his parents
Dr. and Mrs. H. S. Wishart of
Harrisonville. He returned to
the city Friday, well tanned from
exposure in the old swimming
hole, frog hunting, and moonlight
trips over the hill.
Isaiah Kline is rapidly recover
ing from injuries received by the
premature explosion of a lare
firecracker. Ue can see with the
injured eye, the sight of which
was thought to have been destroy
ed. S. Jackson Deshong, who has
been employed in Somerset coun
ty returned to his home Satur
day. The young ladies of the Green
Hill Presbyterian Sunday school,
have arranged for an ice cream
social on the church grounds Sat
urday evening, July 20. They
anticipate a pleasant and profit
able time
l V. Deshong.
Paul W. Deshong, a well known
citizen of Licking Creek township
died at the home of his son Ren
ben at Burlington, W. Va., on the
1st inst., and was interred in the
cemetery at that town.
Mr. Deshong was a veterau of
the Civil War, and was a member
of the Eleventh Pennsylvania Cav
alry, serving 18 months.
His age was 74 years, 8 mouths
aud 15 days.
He had been in failing health
for some time, and about a month
ago his son Reuben came over and
took him home with hiin.
LalUi.
The farmers are nearly all done
harvesting, and the hum of tho
threshing machiue will soon be
heard.
J. F. Johnson has purchased a
10-horso-power engine.
Miss Mary J. Fields and Mrs.
Carrie Kerlin spent Saturday
evoning at Lewis Sipos's, and en
joyed themselves oating ico
cream.
Blackberries are scarce near
Uustontown, as there are two
birds for every berry.
David Stevens still continues
in ill health.
Mrs. Mary A. Kelly of this
place had four nice hogs in the
pen, that would weigh about 100
lbs. each. Last Friday evening
when she fed them, their appetite
was about as vigorous as those of
hogs usually are. Shortly after
feeding, ono of them took sick and
died about an hour later. Tho
first had hardly drawn Us last
breath until a second sickened
and died ; and, thou, a third. Tho
fourth became sick, but is now all
right. Andy Washabauph lost a
flue hog in much thesamoAvay,
on the same day. Tho causo Is a
mystery,
Last Saturday's Game.
One of the most interesting
base ball games that we have seen
for some time, came off on the
Athletic Field at this place last
Saturday between Fannettsburg
and our homo team. In the sev
enteen turns at tho bat, scores
were made in but three, McCon
nellsburg scoring in the fourth
and fifth and Fannettsburg in the
ninth inning. The Fannettsburg
boys are a set of most gentleman
ly fellows ; and while they failed
to win the game, they won the
hearty approval of tho largo num
ber of persons present. Tho line
up and score is as follows :
MeCoimellsburg Fannettsburg
Hoover ss Douglass
Unger p H. Wolfe
Thompson c Wilson
Sheely lb H. Wolfe
Llghtner 2b D. Wolfe
Jno. Patterson 3b Wlnemun
Relsner If Clugston
Jas. Patterson of Alexander
Hayes rf Kling
Score by innings :
Fannettsburg 000000002-2
McConnellsburg 0 0 0 2 3 0 0 Ox S
Clyde Rowland Brewer.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. John
H. Brewer of Thompson town
ship has been saddened by the
death of their thirteen-year-old
son, Clyde Rowland. On the
Fourth of July, Clyde" and a
younger brother were at Han
cock, and it is said Cldye bought
two small boxes of peanuts, the
packages containing prizes. Af
ter eating some of the peanuts,
he became violently sick, and
death followed just one week la
ter, caused, the Doctor said, by
eating the peanuts.
His remains were interred at
Rehoboth last Saturday evening,
Rev. Anthony of Hancock, con
ducting the services.
Cldye was a good boy, and
tho sympathy of a largo number
of sorrowing friends goes out to
the stricken parents.
Gone to Denver.
Mr. Howard C. Wishart, who
for several years has been the
Ticket Agent at Huntingdon, Pa.,
for the Huntingdon and Broad
Top railroad, has resigned his
position with that company, and
left on Monday to accept an ap
pointment iu the Auditor's office
of the Colorado Fuel & Iron Com
pany at Denver, Colorado. The
best wishes of Howard's many
Fulton county friends go with
him.
Sipes Mill.
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Truax
visited Mrs. Charley Mellott.
Frank Mellott spent Saturday
night with Miss Louie Truax,
Mr. and Mrs. Bennet H. Mel
lott spent last Sunday at Obed T.
MelioU's.
While TTirry Mellott was out
driving the other day, his horse
became frightened and dashed
away, throwing Mr. Mellott out
of tho buggy, and breaking his
arm.
New Grenada.
Mrs. Sector and Susan Foster
of Enid, visited a day during the
week in New Grenada.
Dr. R. B. Campbell made a bus
iness trip to Huntingdon last
Wednesday.
Ida Alloway carries a black eye.
It is not from a scrap with her
husband, Dickie; but from her
head coming in contact with an
open swinging window sash.
Ed Bernhart and family of
Northumberland, Pa., are visiting
Jesse B. McClain's.
F. G. Mills nuilt a new porch to
tho west side of the building oc
cupied by N. G. Cunningham's
store.
Samuel Alloway took a three
days outing with friends In At
toona. Mrs. Mary Thomas and, Mrs.
Clay Cornelius visited friends at
Saltillo.
Myrtle and Lena Stunkard of
Wells Tannery, visited their many
friends here.
Dr. Harry C. McClaiu, a gradu
ate of the Medieo-Chi College iu
Philadelphia, and Ernest McChtin
of Juniata College, Huutlngdou,
are home for an outing.
Norman McClain of Philadel
phia, is visiting friends here.
Russel Barber and family of
Saltillo, visited Frank Thomas's
on Sunday.
Harry Dawney, District Presi
dent of P. O. S. of A., and daugh
ter Nellie, of Uustontown, drove
to our village Saturday evening,
and Harry installed the officers of
Washington Camp, here. Nellie
spent tho evening with Maud
Cunningham.
, ONE BY ONE THE STARS
DISAPEAR.
Died, in Wells Valley, Saturday
evening July 12th, George Wash
inton Edwards, aged 73 years.
His remains were interred in Val
ley M. E. cemetery on Monday by
the side of his wife, who preced
ed him to the grave many years
ago. He had made his home with
his son, Amon, since the death of
his wife, at which place he was
when death called. Mr. Edwards
was born and reared in the Valley
and was beloved by all who knew
him. He was a devout man, a
member of the M. E. church
not only a member, but a worker.
It was no uncommon saying, that,
if there was any good men in our
Valley, Mr. Edwards was one.
He will be sadly missed by those
with whom he mingled.especially
the grand children. His test!
mony while on earth is recorded
on high.
"Life's race well run,
Life's work well done,
Life's crown well won,
Now comes rest."
Knobsville.
The weather seems to have be
come settled after the recent
storms and tornadoes, and we are
having the most sultry weather
of the summer to this date. Ev
ery thing in the line of vegetation
is growing finely, and a promise
of an increase in hay crop and
prospect of a good corn crop will
greatly encourage our farmers,
The recent storms were very de
structive to timber, an unusually
large number of fruit, as well as
forest, trees being uprooted.
A number of our young folks
who have been employed in the
Smoky City for some time are
taking a vacation at their homes
among their native hills. Among
them are Susie and Laura Myers
who are visiting with their father
D. H. Myers ; Miss Maud Myers
with her parents Mr. and Mrs
John Myers ; Miss Ella Wagner,
Mr. Lemuel Divens, and others.
Mr. James S. Akers of Locust
Grove, visited D. H. Myers on
Saturday.
Those who were harvesting in
Maryland and Franklin county,
are home again. They report
crop short in straw, but prospect
of a good yield in grain.
Charles Fore's new house is
ready for the roof; other improve
ments are still being added to
properties in this vicinity.
South Dublin will soon have a
new school-house, which is being
built by W. E. Snyder, of Knobs
ville. This will give much needed
school facilities to those who have
labored under disadvantages of
being too remote from school for
many years.
There is a universal .expression
of disgust at the course pursued
by Ex-Superintendent Chesnut,
in incorporating in his official
document such scurrilous attacks
on those who are his acknowledged
superiors in everything except
virulent animosity and vitupera
ition. Ira Fore and Miss Amy Flem
ing leave to-day, it la reported for
a visit to the seashore.
Davidson Flora spent a few
days last week in this place meet
ing old time friends, and review
ing the scenes of his boyhood.
The Floras used to live in the
house now the residence of Geo.
W. Hays, and Davidson, In his
youth, clerked in Fletcher's store
in the room where A. U. Nace &
Sons now are. Ue left McCon
uellsburg about the close of the
war and has been back but once
about 17 years ago. Ho now
owns a big fruit farm about a dra
in ilea from St. Louis.
LOCAL AND PERSONAL.
Hrlef Mention of Persons nnd
Places You Know.
Miss Mary Scott Sloan is visit
ing friends in Greencastle.
Mr. and Mrs. Culbertson Spit.
er of Sylvan, were in town on
Monday.
Miss Nell Trout left Tuesday
morning for Fairfield, Pa., to visit
her brother Dr. N. C. Trout.
Mr. John S. Harris of Licking
Creek township, a valued mem
ber of the News reportorial staff,
spent Monday in town.
Mr. Moses Hess, one of Bethel
township's prominent farmers,
spent last Friday at McConnells
burg. Mr. and Mrs. David Gregory
of Dickeys Mountain, are happy
over the arrival of a new boy at
their house.
Miss Bess Irwin and Miss Jess
Dickson drove over to Chambers
burg Tuesday morning to spend
a week with friends.
Mr. and Mrs. Will H. Nesbit
and Miss Marion Sloan are visit
ing Waynesboro and Gettysburg
this week.
Miss Mary Patterson and Miss
Jessie Sloan went out Tuesday
evening to spend a few days at
the Green Hill Inn.
Mr. and Mrs. Thos. F. Sloan
are spending this week at Gettys
burg looking over the Battlefield
and taking in the sights of the
Encampment.
Mrs. Sue Kerr and daughter
Miss Mary of Jersey Shpre, are
spending this week among Mrs.
Kerr's old time friends in this
place and the Cove.
Mrs. W. E. Hoke and childreu
Howard, Catharine and Frank,
went over to Wells Tannery Sat
urday and staid till Monday with
Mrs. Hoke's parents, Mr. and
Mrs. W. H. Spangler.
Miss Laura McLaughlin, who
has had her home several years
with Mrs. L. E. Harris at Spring
Tannery, spent Monday in Mc
Connellsburg with her grand
mother Mrs. Hannah Wise.
John A. Wistar of Foltz, and
Floyd Grosh, Russel Shaffer aud
Calvin Grier of Mercersburg,
drove over to McConnellsburg
last Sunday and took dinner with
"mine host" John W. Funk.
T. J. Thompson, who has been
seriously sick during the past
eight weeks, has so far recovered
as to be able to sit up in bed. He
thanks his many friends and
neighbors for the kind remem
brance of him during his illness.
B. W. Logue tenant farmer on
the Judge Logan farm now own
ed by Harvey L. Sipes of this
place, sent us a few days ago a
bunch of a dozen wheat heads av
eraging 0i inches in length and
over a hundred grains to the head.
Hon. W. Scott Alexander was
at Atlantic City last week. Ho
was accompanied to Mercersburg
by Mrs. Alexander and their
daughter Maria Dickson who
spent a few days very pleasantly
In that old college town.
Messrs. D. B. Nace and A. U.
Nace went up to Burnt Cabins
Monday for a few days outing.
Since tho Sunday school conven
tion, there seems to be a general
"longing" on the part of the Mc-
Connellsburgers to get back to
the Cabins.
Mrs. Hannah Wise of Morris
on, 111., spent a few days during
the past week visiting her neph
ew Mr. G. W. Hays of this placo,
and her brother Mr. Thomas
Humbert, of Ayr township. Stie
came East a fow weeks ago to at
tend the funeral of her son-in-law
Mr. Abram Shorts at Chambers-
burg.
D. R. Gunnells and A. E. Man
ly of Knobsville, passed' through
town on their bikes last Friday,
returning from harvesting in
Franklin county. As the boys
were coming across the mountain
they encountered a wild cat For
tunately the cat was not very hun
gry, and the boys reached Mc
Connellsburg safe and sound.