"DOWN PATRICK"  Pictures below

In April 1769, an adjoining tract to "Pretty Meadows", of 142 acres, was warranted to John Pedan, who came from Lancaster County, and was named "Down Patrick".   In John Peden's will, dated August 1, 1775, is the clause: "And I allow, in case my child dies, that my wife, Martha, shall have that plantation lying in Sherman's Valley, known as "Down Patrick", she to pay twenty pounds to the other executor, to be put to use for the support of a minister in Dongegal."  By her will, dated a year later, it passes to  her brother, William Wallace. Thus William Wallace, owner of the "Pretty Meadow" tract, came into possession of the "Down Patrick". 

There is no record of any improvements until 1775, when part of it was under cultivation by some squatters who had been driven off by hostile Indians. Not  until 1776 or 1777 did Elliot and Peden clear and cultivate land there. Tradition says these lands were settled earlier but there records do not bear it out.

Wallace transferred the lands to James McNamara in 1793, and he erected the first house in the place, and later a mill, and it came to be known as "McNamara's Mill". McNarmara sold the tract to Valentine Smith, from whom his son, John Smith, acquired twenty-two acres, including the grist and sawmill, and the lands upon which Markelville is located. From Smith it passed to John Weary, and from him to William Bosserman, in 1834. It the came known as Bosserman's Mill, and a post office was established bearing that name. 

Then the property was sold in two parcels, the lands principally going to John Leiby, who in 1853 sold to George Markle, whose building operations and public spirit gave his name to the town. The mill, on the other hand, passed  to George Leonard, who in 1868, sold to David Bixler. The next owners were A. S. Whitekettle, whose title dates to 1886; Henry K. Frymoyer, 1894; Yearick & Dock, 1898, Mr. Yearick later beoming sole owner; Gordon Brothers, 1900; J. . Alter, 1909, selling almost at once to Linn H. Boyer: Wm. A. Patton, 1911, and Lloyde D. Stambaugh, 1915.

Jonas Les kept the first store there. Other early storekeepers were Thomas Black, Peter Ouran, William Bosserman. George Leiby, George Markel Jr., Daniel Sutman, and later A..S. Whitekettle and Miller E. Flickinger.

Today, Lisa Popp's Down Patrick Farm Equine Rescue and Sanctuary is the on the original "Down Patrick". Visit their website to learn more at   www.rescues-etc.com/down_patrick_farm.htm