1997.vol3June

Notes from Monument Square

Newsletter of the Mifflin County Historical Society

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Volume XX111 Number 3 JUNE 1997
(Text version of Society News & Notes)
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Office & Research Library,
1 W. Market St., Suite 1
Lewistown, PA 17044-2128
Phone (717) 242-1022
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McCoy House Museum
17 N. Main St., Lewistown
Sunday afternoon
1:30 - 4:00 p.m.
(May thru December)
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Newsletter Editor : Forest K. Fisher
MCHS e-mail: mchistory@acsworld.net
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Society News & Notes

The Editor’s Desk

What is life, if not change. So it is with this newsletter. For the past seven years Elaine Siddons served as editor. She dedicated untold hours compiling society news. Gathering articles, reporting on special events, taking photos, and preparing layouts...just part of the drive to keep members informed.
Our society relies on volunteers like Elaine. We could not operate without such donations of time and effort. On behalf of the officers and board of directors we wish to express a heart-felt thank you, Elaine!
The job now passes to this editor. Regular newsletter features including Acquisitions, Queries, Members, and Society News will continue to keep you abreast of society happenings. Two new features, The Picture Page and Mifflin County Trivia appear in this edition of the newsletter.
As always, you are invited to stop by the McCoy House or the Research Library during regular hours and enjoy a bit of local history.

Forest K. Fisher

SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP

If you have not renewed your membership, this will be the last newsletter you will receive. Take a minute and renew.
Following are the membership fees in the Mifflin County Historical Society:
-Individual membership $10
-Family membership $15
-Supporting membership $35
-Civic club membership $50
-Life membership $150

Memberships are a vital source of income, allowing the historical society to operate the office, research library and museum as well as special programs.

NEW MEMBERS
* S. B. Mathias, Harrisburg
* David A. Wagner, Milroy
* Mr. and Mrs. Gene Brown,
Lewistown
* Mr. and Mrs. Michael B. Redmond, Lewistown
* Nancy M. Aumiller, Belleville
* David G. Ernest, San Ramon, CA
* Carleen Horrel-Chacon, Des Moines, IA
* Mr. and Mrs. William J. Osterhoudt, Lewistown
* Stephanie Shugarts, Lewistown
* M. J. Shannon, Lewistown
* Ronald L. Amspacher Family, McVeytown
* Cindy Dunn, Reedsville
* Delores Ritter, McClure
* Ann M. Olmstead, McClure
* Dan Vogler, New Castle
* Harriette Hahn, Ft. Myers, FL
* Samuel G. Bossert, Bremerton, WA
* Donald R. Walk, M.D., Carmichael, CA
* Mildred Smith, Lewistown
* Mr. and Mrs. Robert Runtagh,
Lewistown
* Mr. and Mrs. Tom Wertz, Lewistown

Civil War Publication

Announcing its first in a series of printings on the Civil War era in Juniata County, the Juniata County Historical Society
is pleased to present...

An Eternal Fame: The Civil War Experiences of
Colonel George F. McFarland
by
Michael Dreese
Foreword by Richard A. Sauers

This 220-page book, well indexed and illustrated with numerous maps and photos, is based on the diaries of Col. George Fisher McFarland, the prototype fighting schoolteacher. A successful school principal in Juniata County, McFarland joined the fight to save the Union. He raised Company D, of the 151^st Pennsylvania Volunteers, in 1862, amid the confusion of the first draft, the introduction of the “nine-month” regiments, and the competition for recruits with a cavalry company being recruited at the same time in Juniata County.
The diary reveals McFarland’s education as an officer and his reactions to battle experience, which climaxed at the first day of Gettysburg. There he fell, severely wounded in both legs, while leading his regiment as its acting commander. McFarland’s post-war experiences, including his term as Superintendent of the Pennsylvania Orphans’ School System, is also documented.

Send $20.00 check or money order for mail delivery ($17.00 + $3.00 s & h) to this address:

Juniata County Historical Society
498B Jefferson Street
Mifflintown, PA 17059-1424

Society Purchases
These books are located in the research
library on Monument Square.

The Philip Brown Family of Tulpehocken Valley compiled by Shirley M. Brown & Hist. Comm. c 1995

Nicknames : Past and Present by Christine Rose c 1995

Miller Family History, Descendants of Solomon S. Miller and (1) Mary Hershberger, and (2) Barbara Christner, 1828 - 1981
by Oscar R. Miller c 1981

Kaufman - Kauffman: The House of Oley
by Frank Llewellyn Kaufman and Odette J. Mordant Kaufman c 1994

The Other Hertzler - Hartzlers
by Emanuel Cassel Hertzler c 1995

Country Chairs of Central Pennsylvania,
by Marie Purnell Musser c 1990

Descendants of Jonathan S. King and Katie Lapp King edited by Ada Nancy King c 1993

The Descendants of Samuel L. and Catherine (Yoder) Plank by J. Donald Plank c 1994

Kanagy Roots and a Branch
by Ezra J. Kanagy c 1987

The Oberholtzer Book: A Foundation Book of
Oberholtzer Immigrants and Unestablished Lines edited & complied by Barbara B. Ford
c 1995

Peter Sharp Family History: Emphasizing the Descendants of Christian and Mattie (Zook) Sharp by John E. Sharp & James E. Frey
c 1980

Who Begot Thee? Descendants of Jacob Brubaker of Snyder Co., PA by Lois Ann Zook c 1990

What Did They Mean by That? A Dictionary of Historical Terms for Genealogists
by Paul Drake, J.D. c 1994

QUERIES

Horrell, McDonald, Wilson

Seeking information on this family:
William Horrell believed to be from Ireland, wife Margaret born 1806, in Pennsylvania, died 1890. Son William W. Horrell, born 1833, Mifflin County, died 18 July, 1889, Mifflin County. Wife Caroline L. McDonald, born 7 April, 1836 and died 30 June, 1892. Son James Artos McDonald Horrell, born 5 October, 1856 in Mifflin County and died 3 November, 1920 in Illinois. Wife Emma Elizabeth Avilla Wilson, born 1863 in Indiana and died 27 February, 1908 in Illinois, believed to be an Indian.

Carleen Horrell-Chacon
3125 Fleming Ave. Des Moines, IA 50310-5316

Meteer

James METEER Sr. (d 1822) (s/o William McTeer of E. Pennsborough) and w Elizabeth NELSON (d/o Robert Nelson) settled in Union Township Mifflin County before 1790. They had 9 children. I am trying to locate four of 9 heirs who I think stayed in Mifflin or nearby counties: Jennet (m William STEEL). Mary Ann (Polly) (m James AITKENS, ch maybe James, Rebecca). Joseph (w Mary). Dorcas (d 1823 - 25) (m William POTTER). In 1825 the Potter ch were: James (w Hannah), Sarah (both of Lost Creek Valley); and David (w Mary), Robert (w Elizabeth), William (w Susannah), John, Eliza C. (all of Woodbury Township Huntingdon Co.

James William Meteer
913 Meador St. L’Anse, MI 49946 - 1617

(Queries continue on page 9)

ACQUISITIONS

Harold B. Brumbaugh, Curator Juniata College Museum, Huntingdon, PA 16652 - Video: “The County Superintendents of Schools in Pennsylvania, 1854 - 1971.

Betty L. Bloom, 9 Pine Road, Yeagertown, PA Black woolen cape worn by donor’s grandmother.

Mr. Melvin Bortell, Brookline Retirement Village. Mifflintown, PA and Mrs. Katheryn Stuck, HCR 63 Box 23, Mifflintown, PA - Two business ledgers from Tom Johnson’s Shoe Store dating back to 1864 and Photo: L.H.S. Class of 1930, while on class trip to Mt. Vernon, VA.
Jack Williamson, Clarion Inn, Rt. 322 Interchange, Burnham, PA - Photo: Stone Arch Bridge, taken in 1892 by J. Ross Andrews.

Virginia Narehood, Church St., Reedsville, PA - Photos: Ferguson Valley and Ort Valley Intersection and Lutheran Church in Burnham.

Margaret Spahr, 504 Lindbergh Way, Lewistown, PA - Book: Unpuzzling Your Past - A Basic Guide to Genealogy 3^rd Edition by Emily Anne Croom

Ruth M. Byler, RR 2, Box 249, Belleville, PA - Dedication program for the Lewistown High School building, dated Nov., 1917

Mr. and Mrs. Winston Libby, 14 Church Lane, Reedsville, PA - Series of 50 postcard sized photos showing Adolf Hitler in various settings, written in German.

James W. Thompson, 25C Queen Elizabeth Court, Chester, MD 21619 - Book: Descendants of John Thompson comp. by the donor, c. 1994.

Mrs. H. M. Rittenhouse, 570 Summit Dr., Pl. Acres, Lewistown, PA - Book: Tulpehocken Church Records, 1730 - 1800. Christ (Little Tulpehocken) Church & Altalaha Church, Rehrersburg.

Joseph K. Campbell, 602 W. Burbank, Fredericksburg, TX 78624 - Book: Oliver and Sabine’s (Campbell) Heritage - An American Family’s History comp. by the donor, c. 1997.

Mrs. Wm. E. (Helen G.) Buffington, 255 Hartzler Dr., Belleville, PA - Mifflin County Garden Club “Silver Bowl” for Artistic Design.

Dale W. Hanson, Apt. 10B, 315 W. 70^th St., NY, NY 10023 - A Limited Genealogy of Frank Ross McCoy prepared by donor for 1897 Centennial Day, USMA.

William S. Smith, 14 Marble St., Lewistown, PA - Piece of rope used in local trolley cars, acquired by Robert C. Smith, Strodes Mills, (father of the donor), when trolley cars were “put to rest.”

Paul T. Fagley, 114 2^nd Ave., Burnham, PA - Book: Canal History and Technology Proceedings, Vol. XVI Contains donor’s article entitled “Man’s Second Tool: Mann’s First Tool - The Story of the Mann Family & Their Axe-making Dynasty”

Society News & Notes
Warehouse Project Moves Forward

The new electrical service is in place. Roof repair work is completed. Interior work is in the planning stage. The warehouse renovation project moves ahead.
The building is located directly behind the McCoy House, fronting the alley that connects N. Main and N. Brown Streets.
Acquired some years ago, the warehouse now allows for additional storage on the first floor, with a second floor for lighter storage.
Future plans may include a finished ground floor room to display our larger acquisitions. This room could accommodate workshops or seasonal displays.
(New electric service installed last year.)
Interior view of the ground level room. Stairs to the second floor in the back, right.

Ever an eye for a good buy! Thanks to Fran Mackneer, Museum Committee Chairperson! Fran acquired the shelf unit pictured above at the G. C. Murphy/Newberry liquidation sale earlier this year. The unit now resides on the second floor of the warehouse.

Addition Appreciated

The Mifflin County Historical Society gratefully acknowledges a recent gift from the Logan Chapter of the Daughters of American Colonists.
The book, Pennsylvania Births, Lancaster County ,1723 - 1777 by John T. Humphrey c. 1997 was presented by the chapter. This volume is an excellent addition to the genealogical materials housed in the research library.

Mifflin County Historical Society
Officers & Board of Directors
1997-1998

At the Mifflin County Historical Society’s spring membership meeting Robert L. Ingram was elected assistant treasurer. Gerald E. Purcell, Susan Earp and Raymond Matthews were elected to
the board of directors.
Officers and members of the board of directors include:

Officers
President - John P. Mertz
1st Vice President - Ray C. Allison
2nd Vice President - Marian C. Barr
Recording Secretary - Nancy L, Aurand
Corresponding Secretary - Winona T. Simmons
Treasurer - Joseph E. Deihl
Assistant Treasurer - Robert L. Ingram

Board of Directors

Class of 1998 Class of 1999
Forest K. Fisher Nancy L. Aurand
Gerald E. Purcell William Check
Marian C. Barr Thekla M. Leeper
Joseph E. Deihl Daniel McClenahen
Ray C. Allison Jean A. Suloff
Susan Earp Robert L. Ingram
Winona T. Simmons John P. Mertz

Class of 2000 Directors Emeritus
Margaret I. Spahr Dr. Eleanor M. Aurand
Lois E. Dunmire John B. Hartzler
Fran Mackneer Marian R. Johns
Raymond Matthews John Thompson
Paul T. Fagley R. Lee Ziegler
Mary C. Reed A. Walter Gill
Robert M. Conrad

Kid Connection - 1997

The garden
of the McCoy
House saw
activities,
historical in
nature, at this

year’s Kid Connection held in Lewistown, April 26.
Dressed in costume, Indian Valley High School seniors Jolene Brumbaugh, Michelle Kline and Amy Laughlin, (shown above right), were on hand as children stood behind period cut-outs to have pictures taken.
With thousands of children and their parents spending the day in downtown Lewistown, the volunteers at McCoy House helped make the day a huge success! Thank you, volunteers!

Genealogical Workshop
* * * for Beginners * * *

Have you always wanted to know more about your ancestors, but never quite knew where or how to start looking? The Mifflin County Historical Society just might be able to help you begin that quest for your roots.
A two hour workshop geared for the novice is being planned for this Fall. A professional genealogist will conduct the session, with handouts to help get you started. Look for specific details in the August newsletter.

Shontz Family History

Thomas Shontz has contacted the society with word of publication of the Shontz genealogy, with mention of local families and locations.
Price is $35.95 for soft back and $43.95 in hardback. If you are interested, please call the Mifflin County Historical Society office during regular hours Tuesday and Wednesday 10:00 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Virginia Plantation Tour
Fall Bus Tour - October 10 - 12, 1997

Reserve now and join the Mifflin County Historical Society’s Fall bus tour. Visit the plantations of the Old Dominion. The trip begins at 6:00 a.m. October 10, departing Lewistown from the library parking lot. See the Virginia State Capital Building in Richmond, second oldest working capital in the United States. That evening enjoy a dinner cruise on the Annabelle Lee.
Tour these stately homes October 11:
Shirley Plantation, home of the Hill - Carters for 11 generations, birthplace of the mother of Robert E. Lee.
Berkeley Plantation, birthplace of Benjamin Harrison and ancestral home of two U. S. presidents.
Evelynton Plantation, home of the Ruffins. Edmund Ruffin fired the first shot of the Civil War.
Sherwood Forest Plantation, home of 10th U. S. President, John Tyler.
Lunch at the Indian River Tavern, a converted turn-of-the-century farmhouse into a restaurant. Conclude the day with a dinner and show at Swift Creek Dinner Theatre.
Depart for home October 12, 7:00 a. m. and arrive 5:00 p. m at the Lewistown Library parking lot.

Cost: $225.00 per person double occupancy. Includes: Transportation, 2 nights lodging, guided tour of Richmond, dinner cruise, plantation tour with lunch and dinner theatre.

Payment due when reservations are made. Reservations with payment must be made on or before September 5, 1997.

Please make reservations with:

Ray C. Allison, Society Program Committee Chairman
34 Grand Parkway North
Lewistown, PA 17044 Phone (717) 248-9321

Be sure of a seat! Reserve early.

QUERIES
Horrell, McDonald, Wilson

Carleen Horrell-Chacon
3125 Fleming Ave. Des Moines, IA 50310-5316

Meteer

Seeking information:
Who were the parents of CHRISTOPHER C. PRICE, died 6-4-1902, Civil War Veteran. Married Eliza Gibbs.
Who were the parents of REUBEN KELLER, died 5-13-1894 at daughter’s home in Reedsville. Her name was Mary married to Simon Smith. Rueben’s wife was Mary Dietrich.
Reply to:
Robert Elder
1833 Hemlock Rd.
Lancaster, PA 17603

ACQUISITIONS

Anne Fisher Exhibit at McCoy House

The Mifflin County Historical Society will host an exhibit of art by late local artist Anne Fisher. The exhibit will be open to the public starting Saturday, September 27, 1997 at the McCoy House.
Born in Lewistown, Iva Anne Kepler Fisher (1925-1977), is best known for her portrayal of the old order Amish of Mifflin County, producing thousands of sketches and paintings throughout her career. Anne Fisher also had a deep interest in local history, painting scenes from the county’s past such as A Cool Drink, shown above. This painting was part of a Bicentennial project Fisher titled “Remember When” and was inspired by childhood memories of the Mifflin County Fair.
This painting will be on display during the exhibit, as well as other paintings from that project including Early Morning Delivery, showing a Lewistown Pure Milk delivery wagon and The Outing, illustrating a Gibboney Park picnic.
Incidentally, two of the figures in A Cool Drink held special meaning to the artist. The woman on the left with her back to the viewer is Anne Fisher’s mother, Iva Kepler. The little girl in front of the counter to the right is the artist as a five-year-old!
The McCoy House hosted Anne Fisher art in 1995, marking the 70th anniversary of the artist’s birth. That exhibit was a joint effort with the Centre County Historical Society.
Area residents willing to loan Anne Fisher original work to be displayed in McCoy House are asked to call 242-1022 for details.

STEIN EXHIBIT AT MCCOY HOUSE

Three dozen steins from the collection of John and Robin Mertz opened the 1997 summer season at the McCoy House. The display included a silver stein made in the United States around 1900, an 1870 Royal Delft stein from Holland and a 1909 regimental stein from the Imperial German Army. Many thanks to John and Robin for sharing these treasured antique drinking vessels.

Thomas Jefferson to speak at September Banquet

The date to remember: September 18, 1997. The event: Mifflin County Historical Society’s Fall Banquet. The guest speaker: Thomas Jefferson. Farmer, lawyer, scientist, statesman “The Sage of Monticello” approved the Louisiana Purchase and sent Lewis and Clark westward. Author of the Declaration of Independence and two term United States president, consider Jefferson’s first term election...
February 11, 1801 the Electoral College met to count the ballots for the presidential election of 1800, Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr tie with 73 votes each.
February 17, 1801 following an all-night session of 36 ballots and a deadlock, the House of Representatives chooses Thomas Jefferson president of the United States.
With a life so full of history, imagine the tales Mr. Jefferson has to tell! The Mifflin County Historical Society invites you to welcome Thomas Jefferson Thursday, September 18, 1997.

Details in August the Newsletter