HISTORY OF MARKELSVILLE

MARKELSVILLE, Perry County, Pennsylvania

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HISTORY OF MARKELSVILLE
Read the History of Perry County

Markelville was formerly known as Bosserman's Mills until Mr. George Markel so changed the place by his enterprise and thrift that it was named after him.

"The American Indians inhabited the shores of the Juniata River and the Juniata Valley. They located along the Big Buffalo and Little Buffalo creeks. Many and horrible were the butcheries of the early settlers when England paid a stipulated price for rebel scalps. Along the banks of these streams all game was abundant and the streams filled with fish. The Indian did not posses the sense of indiscriminate slaughter of game and fish, which characterized the English. ...mountains, fertile valleys, the clear brooks, the rushing streams and clear waters of the blue Juniata appealed to the white man as well as the red man." ¹

Over the years, Indian arrowheads have been found in many places in and around Perry County. It is recorded in the provincial records that the area known today as Perry County was of great importance to the Indians. It was a famous hunting ground. One of the earliest records of Indians in Pennsylvania is the "Jesuit Relations of 1659". It tells of a ten-year war between the Mohawks and the Pennsylvania Indians. By the end of the war, the Mohawks were nearly wiped out. ²

The area known today as Perry County was at that time, a deserted space. Around 1713-14, with the consent of the 5 Nations, the Tuscarora Indians were allowed to settle here, "on the Juniata, in a secluded interior, not far from the Susquehanna River." The Delawares settled here c1720-30 and later, the Shawnee. The great trail or path to the southwest was called the "Tuscarora Path", most likely called such because of the tribes settlements in the area. They were located in the part of Perry County called Raccoon Valley ( and in Tuscarora Valley in Juniata Co., and Path Valley in Franklin Co.). There was an Indian trail that went west along the Susquehanna and Juniata Rivers. This trail crossed at what is now known as Clark's Ferry (at Duncannon). Another trail went over the Blue Mountain at what is now known as Sterrett's Gap - also known as the Allegheny Path. A trail also went over the same mountain at McClure's Gap, crossing the Tuscarora Mountain. Even after the pioneers began to settle in the county, there were some Indians that would not leave with their tribes. They chose to stay in their homes rather than move on. ²It seems evident that there must have been many of the same Indians inhabiting the banks of Big Buffalo Creek.

The country north of the Blue Hills was valued by the Indians as their best hunting grounds, and when in 1740 their rights began to be invaded by German and other squatters who had built cabins in Sherman's Valley, and on the Juniata. Their complaints caused the Provincial government to order their immediate removal and to forbid others following their example. Cumberland county [included today's Perry County] east of the Kittatinny Mountains, was organized in January, 1750. It was then believed that a people of a common nationality should locate in the same settlement, and with such instruction from the Proprietary their agents sent the Irish, Scotch and English settlers to Cumberland, and the Germans to York county. Soon after the organization of Cumberland county, in 1750, it was decided that all persons living on lands north of the Kittatinny Mountains should be removed. Secretary Richard Peters was sent by the Lieutenant-Governor, James Hamilton, to remove all persons from the country north of the Blue Mountain. These people had been warned and advised to leave in 1748. Settlers were taken from their cabins and their cabins were set afire.³

There was much bloodshed and conflict amongst the first settlers and Indians in the Juniata Valley. Read the referenced account and you will understand why the Markelville area was not cultivated until after 1776..

In 1763, the lands (120 acres) on which Markelville is located were warranted to Edward Elliot, and named in the warrant as "Pretty Meadow". Six years later (1769) the adjoining tract (142 acres) was warranted to John Pedan, who came from Lancaster County, and was named "Down Patrick". The land remained uncultivated until the 1770s.

1775 John Peden's will is the clause: ".... 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 the innkeeper. 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. It was in 1775 the David English bought the tract of land on which Newport is now situated. a year later, Martha Peden (wife of John Peden and sister of William Wallace) will left "Down Patrick" to her brother. 1782 The "Pretty Meadow" tract was sold to William Wallace, and he came into possession of the other tract through the will of his sister, Martha Peden. 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.

In 1776 the American Revolution broke out. The record made by the sons of Perry during the Revolutionary struggle will be found in chronological order, under "The War Record". It is worthy of a people who had so recently passed the trials of which these pages bear a record. William Robinson served as a Private in the Revolutionary War. The Division of Archives and Manuscripts in Harrisburg has cash records indicating that he served in 1780, in 1782 and in 1785. On the Master record for 1780 it speaks of him thus: "He is a man in years and very unfit likewise he is supervisor of the roads and is a call for his immediate attendance." It does not sound as if they wanted him. Mathias Burd fought in the Revolution 1776 in Pennsylvania. During the Revolutionary War, Johannes Yohn served from 1778 to 1783 as a private in Captain Philip Gibb's Company, Daniel Heister's regiment of the Philadelphia County militia.

1793 William Wallace transferred the lands ["Down Patrick" and "Pretty Meadows"] to James McNamara, 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.

By 1800 more settled in the Markelville area. The "Bs" settled - Bealor, Blaine, Bitner, Baker, and Boyer. Then there was Markel and Myer ! The present Markelville includes the site of "Little Vienna" which was patented by Alexander Myers in 1809, and contained 365 acres. In 1815 Alexander Myers planned and laid out the "future city" on the lands just south of the Lutheran Church. In March of that year he had a public auction of lots and succeeded in selling eighteen, each of which contained thirty-one perches [square rod = 16.5 ft x 16.5 ft]. But three house were built upon them, as follows: One by a tailor named John Smith, another by George Folk, and the third by Isaac Frantz. A right-of-way was reserved to Buffalo Creek for the residents and a public road provided, but with the death of Myers also died the dream of a great city to be located there.

In 1820 Perry County was created. It incorporated townships from Cumberland County including Rye Township. It should be noted that New Bloomfield did not exist at this time. But Newport was the growing town. Indians were the first inhabitants of this region, settling along the Big Buffalo and Little Buffalo creeks. In 1754, the Indians sold a portion of this land to the English, and it became property of Penn’s. At this time, the first white settlers began moving in, and by 1758, the Indians were ordered by the English to leave. In 1774, King George III authorized the sale of two plots of land called "Grenada" and "Antigua" to David English. In 1802, some of the land was plotted into 54 lots - following the river and in the area of Mulberry to Walnut.

1829 The Juniata Canal, part of the Pennsylvania Canal System was completed. Commerce grew. This open trade and transportation to the area. Five miles west along the trail of Middle Ridge brought one to Markelville. The Markelville farmers, millers could ship their goods.

1830 Markelville was growing! In 1834 the "McNamara's Mill" was passed from Smith to John Weary, and from him to William Bosserman. It then became known as Bosserman Mill, and a post office was established bearing that name. Aft 1834, the property was then sold in two parcels, the lands principally going to John Leiby.

In 1840, Newport was incorporated as a borough with Sam Leiby being the first burgess and by 1846 the village had grown into a town of 100 homes.

1840-1850 More and more moved to Markelville

1853 John Leiby sold one parcel of land 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.

1855 The Markelville Academy was opened. Read about the Markelville Academy

1856 George Markel opened a general store and post office. 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.

1862 The Homestead Act brought more settlers to Markelville. Among the homesteaders of Markelsville were:

Kneisly-Homestead Rd

Lesh -Honeysuckle Rd

Campbell - Centre Rd

1868 George Leonard sold the mill to David Bixler.

1886 -1915 The next owners were A. S. Whitekettle, whose title dates to 1886; Henry K. Frymoyer, 1894; Yearick & Dock.

The 1889 Flood, which washed out Newport, caused a mad rush of waters on Big Buffalo Creek. It destroyed the dams and washed away the covered bridge that connected north and south Markelville.

In 1890 the Markelville School House opened to educated the village children. It remained opened until 1956.

1898, Mr. Yearick later becoming sole owner; Gordon Brothers, 1900; J. Alter, 1909, selling almost at once to Linn H. Boyer: Wm. A. Patton, 1911, and Lloyde D. Stambaugh, the present owner in 1915. WHO WAS THE "PRESENT OWNER" IN 1915?

Markelville has been the location of a number of physicians. Among them were Dr. J. E. VanCamp, 1869-71; Dr. J.D. Shull, 1887-96; Dr. Geo. W. Lupfer, after 1881, and Dr. Chas. J. Manning, after 1889.

Read the reference to see for your self what H. H. Hain said about Markelsville.

References:

1. A Sesquicentennial Commemorative Book for Newport, Pennsylvania 1840-1990.

2. abstracted from the book: History of Perry County, Pennsylvania; H. H. Hain

3. HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY - S. Wright; 1873 Chapter 1: Indians & First Settlers.