HISTORY: Warner Beers, 1886, Part 2, Chapter 34, Cumberland County, PA
Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
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History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania.
Containing History of the Counties, Their Townships, Towns, Villages,
Schools, Churches, Industries, Etc.; Portraits of Early Settlers and
Prominent Men; Biographies; History of Pennsylvania; Statistical and
Miscellaneous Matter, Etc., Etc. Illustrated. Chicago: Warner, Beers
& Co., 1886.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/beers/beers.htm
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PART II.
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
SOUTHAMPTON TOWNSHIP.*
SOUTHAMPTON is the extreme southwestern township of the county, and
is bounded on the north by Hopewell, on the east by Newton, and on the
south and west by the lines of Adams and Franklin Counties. It was
formed, originally, one year before the formation of Franklin County,
from portions of Lurgan and Hopewell Township, in October, 1783. At
this session of the court a petition is presented praying the court to
erect into one separate township such parts of the said townships of
Hopewell and Lurgan as are included in the description given, and that
it "be called henceforth by the name of Southampton," which petition
was confirmed by the court.
In this petition complaint is made of the great length of the said
townships - namely, Hopewell and Lurgan - "which at present extend from
the North to the South Mountains at a distance of about fifteen miles."
The creation of Franklin County, in September, 1784, disturbed the
boundary of this township, so that another petition of a number of the
inhabitants of Southampton Township is presented to the court in
January, 1791, setting forth that the said township of Southampton was
some years laid off from Hopewell and Lurgan Townships into a separate
township by the name of Southampton; that, soon after that, the "said
township of Southampton was cut in two by a line dividing Franklin from
Cumberland County," etc., and states that at a meeting of the
inhabitants of Hopewell and Southampton Townships it was agreed that
"the future boundary between Hopewell and Southampton Townships begin
at Capt. William Strains' mill-dam; thence along the southeast side of
the laid out road leading from said Strains' mill to James Irvin's mill
until it intersects the line between Newton and Hopewell," etc., and
prays the court to grant relief by confirming the said boundary; which
was done, so that "that part of the said township of Hopewell lying
southeast of the road leading from Strains' to Irwin's mill shall be
henceforth called Southampton."
CHARACTER OF SOIL, ETC.
The character of the soil in Southampton Township is, in the north,
undulating limestone land, more or less rocky, but productive, and in
which, at its settlement, was what was known as "barrens," a sort of
prairie land where the Indians had burned the forests, which grew up
afterward into brush; this limestone land containing oak, hickory, and
several varieties of locust and walnut, while on the gravel land south
there were large forests of yellow pine
*For borough of Shippensburg, see page 257.
344 HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
extending from the base of the mountains three miles into the valley.
This description is true of the whole south side of the upper portion
of the valley until it reaches almost the center of the county. This
land is well watered by numerous streams.
Some superior ore banks have been discovered in this township, and
therefore it was that, long ago, furnaces were established. The first
of these, built by John Moore, of Carlisle, in 1824, on the stream near
the foot of the South Mountain, was one known as Augusta. Another, on
the same stream, in the forest below, was known as Mary Ann. A third,
still later, about four miles east of the latter, was called Big Pond.
They have all long since ceased to be in operation. Other mills, and
for other purposes, have since been built in the neighborhood of Middle
Spring. Deposits of superior hematite iron ore are to be found at
different places in the township, while fine farms abound on the
limestone land.
One matter in connection with the township during the Revolution is
of interest. Two powder-mills were erected, one near the foot of South
Mountain, and the other about a mile northwest of Shippensburg. The
former was but a short distance on the run above where the Mary Ann
Furnace was subsequently built, and the other just below where the
Zearfoss flouring-mill now stands. Both mills were blown up, at
different times, and in both cases resulted in the death of the
proprietors.
EARLIEST SETTLERS.
The southwestern portion of this township was settled at a very early
period. Large tracts of land, lying between the southeastern boundary
of the first purchase made by Edward Shippen and the base of the South
Mountains, were owned by John Reynolds, Benjamin Blithe, Col. James
Dunlap, John Cesna and others. John Reynolds' tract joined that of Mr.
Shippens on its southeastern side, while south of the latter lay that
of Mr. Blythe. Just southeast of the Blythe tract lies the one which
was purchased by Col. Dunlap in 1767. East of this tract is the Cesna
farm, upon which Dennis O'Neiden and John Kirkpatrick were killed by
the Indians July 18, 1757. This farm was one of the first occupied in
the township, and remained in the possession of the descendants of Mr.
Cesna until about the year 1827. On the north and northwest of the
second purchase of Mr. Shippen, were the Brumfields, Duncans, Wherrys,
McCunes, Caldwells, Culbertsons, Morrows, Finleys, Montgomerys and
others. These were among the earliest settlers in the valley, and most
of them were men of intelligence and enterprise, constituting such a
group of these handy Scotch-Irish as will bear comparison with any
which can be collected at the present day.*
VILLAGES.
There are three villages in the township, namely, Leesburg,
Cleversburg and Middle Spring.
Leesburg is situated on the Harrisburg & Potomac Railroad, on the
Walnut Bottom road, four miles east of Shippensburg, and was originally
settled by Scotch-Irish families, such as the Maxwells, Highlands,
Chestnuts and others, who lived upon the lands upon which it is built,
or just adjacent. It contains at present a postoffice, a church, three
stores, graded schools, and a population of about 300 inhabitants. The
town was called from George Lee, who kept a tavern in a log house which
stood on the south side of the Walnut
*The writer has to say that some of the above facts were obtained
from the late Hon. John McCurdy who seems to have made a careful study
of the
345 HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
Bottom road. This house, a farm house of Mr. Adam Reese, and a house
which stood on the north side of the road below that of Mr. Reese, were
the only houses then standing within the present limits of Leesburg.
The land to the south and west of Lee's house, we are informed, was
then covered with heavy timber, consisting of yellow pine, white and
black oak, and hickory, nor was there any cleared land on either side
of the Walnut Bottom road from that point until within a mile of
Shippensburg excepting two farms, the Beltz and Rebrick.
Cleversburg is situated just south of the center of the township,
about one mile from the South Mountains, on land which originally
belonged to George Croft, but which was purchased afterward by George
Clever. The town was begun about 1860. It was called after George
Clever, and was laid out upon the lands of George Clever and Wm. Sibbet
and others. Up to this time (1860) there were but two houses, and a
grist or flour-mill which is still standing. Clever owned the
Gochenaur, or, originally, Croft, mill. The town contains a
postoffice, a furnace, two churches, schools, a grist-mill, and a
population of about 350. A branch railroad runs to the ore banks and
furnaces from Cleversburg.
Middle Spring is located about two miles north of Shippensburg. It
takes its name from the spring and the old church which stands there.
There is here a store, postoffice, blacksmith's shop and a number of
dwellings.
MIDDLE SPRING CHURCH AND GRAVE-YARD.
For some reason all the old Presbyterian churches of the Cumberland
Valley were erected near a spring or stream of water, and from their
location they derived their names. Of these Middle Spring is one. Of
the exact date of the origin of this congregation no record has been
preserved; neither can it be ascertained from any other source. A log
church, thirty-five feet square, was erected here about 1738, not far
from where the present Middle Spring Church now stands. In 1765 a new
structure was erected, and enlarged from time to time, which was
succeeded in 1781 by the stone structure, which gave place, in 1847, to
the new brick church, which has since been remodeled and improved.
Instead of, ourselves, attempting to describe these churches, we
prefer to use almost verbatim, the words of one who is more familiar
with them. "Those," says Dr. Nevin, "who are familiar with this
locality, remember well the green slope to the right on which the
building stands; the grave-yard in the rear; the beautiful wood
stretching back, with its refreshing shadows; the old mill-dam to the
left; the fountain of fresh water bubbling up close by; the murmuring
stream, which rolls on under thick hanging foliage; and the "Lower
Grave-yard" a little to the north, along which the stream flows in its
course, chanting its sweet requiem for the dead." It was in this
grave-yard that the first church in this region was built. This was
about 1738. It does not now stand. It was demolished, and another log
one built upon the spot. This was considerably larger, being about
forty-eight feet long and forty-eight wide. In a little while this was
extended, by removing three sides of the building then in use, and
embracing a little more space on either side, which was covered with a
roof, something in the form of a shed. Up the sides of these additions
to the main edifice, and over the roofs, were erected wooden steps, by
which access was gained to the gallery. This arrangement was made for
want of room in the interior of the building for the construction of a
stairway. About the year 1781, the old stone church was erected, whose
site, as is well known, was just beside that of the present building.
This was still larger than its predecessor, fifty-eight by sixty-eight
feet, and at about this same
346 HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
time the grave-yard immediately in its rear was located. This was
done, not only because the old one was already filled, but also because
its soil was of a gravelly description, and its lower section, by
reason of its nearness to the stream, was subject to frequent
inundation.
The present brick church at Middle Spring was built, but seemingly,
at least, not without poetic protest, in 1747-48, as in the volume from
which we have quoted, among others, there appears this verse:
"That old stone church! Hid in these oaks apart,
I hoped the newer world would ne'er invade,
But only time, with its slow, hallowing art,
Would touch it, year by year, with softer shade,
And crack its walls no more, but, interlaid.
Mend them with moss. Its ancient somber cast
Dearer to me is than all art displayed
In modern churches, which, by their contract,
Make this to stand forlorn, held in the solemn past."*
Of the list of persons, to show the warlike mettle of these men,
members or adherents of this church, who took part in the Revolution,
we may mention Cols. Benjamin Blythe, Isaac Miller, Robt. Peebles,
William Scott, Abraham Smith; Maj. James Herron; Capts. William Rippey,
Matthew Henderson, Matthew Scott, David McKnight, John McKee, William
Strain, Joseph Brady, Robert Quigley, Charles Leeper (killed at Crooked
Billet, May, 1778), Charles Maclay, Samuel Blithe, Samuel Walker, James
Scott, Samuel McCune, Samuel Kearsley and Lieut. Samuel Montgomery
(lost a leg at Crooked Billet); John Heap, Esq., Samuel Cox, Esq.,
Francis Campble, John Reynolds, Esq., Thomas McClellan, Joseph
McKenney, James McKee, Robert Donavin, William Turner, Thomas McCombs,
William Sterritt, John Woods, Esq., William Anderson, John Maclay,
James Dunlap, Esq., James Lowry, Esq., John Maclay (mountain), William
Barr, Archibald Cambridge, John Herron, David Herron, David Duncan,
John McKnight, James McCune, David Mahan, John Thompson, Jacob Porter,
Isaac Jenkins (one of five brothers who died in camp of contagious
disease, all of whom are buried in the Lower Grave-yard), Samuel Dixon,
John Grier. A number of the members of this church were present in the
meeting held in the Presbyterian Church, in Carlisle, June 12, 1774, to
protest against the closing of the port of Boston.
MIDDLE SPRING CHURCH LANDS.
The history of the lands which belonged to the Middle Spring Church
is thus given by Rev. S. Wylie, its present pastor: "On the 27th of
May, 1767, there was surveyed and sold to Francis Campble, Robert
Chambers, William Duncan and John Maclay, the tract of land in Hopewell
Township, Cumberland County, called 'Mount Hope,' very much in the form
of a wedge, with the head extending along the Middle Spring, beyond the
old grave-yard, and the sharp point reaching almost to Mean's Run in
the direction of Shippensburg, containing 49 acres and 110 perches, for
which they paid the State of Pennsylvania the sum of 9l and 16s. This
land was patented by these men September 17, 1790, and in November,
1793, they deeded it to the trustees of the Middle Spring Church. On
the 3d of December, 1813, there was sold of this land, at public
auction, nine acres and nine perches, lying along and including the
water-right of Middle Spring, to Samuel Cox, at $150 per acre. On the
10th of May, 1825, of the remainder twenty-four acres and fifty-three
perches were sold to Mr. George Diehl for the sum of $486.62. There
thus remains something above sixteen acres of these lands, which still
belong to the church.
*From poem by Prof. W. M. Nevin: "The Guardian," May, 1852.
347 HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
"The old grave-yard belonging to this church was used from its
earliest history. The oldest records now legible, however, only date
back to 1770. The oldest names appear to be the Wrights and Johnsons.
The present stone wall was built before 1805. It had a shingle comb-
roof and was painted red. The upper or new yard was inclosed in 1842."
MISCELLANEOUS.
Southampton Township is favored with two railroads, the Cumberland
Valley and the Harrisburg & Potomac, the former running through the
more northerly part of the township, and the latter through the center
portion. The postoffices are Shippensburg, Middle Spring, Cleversburg
and Lee's Cross Roads.