<center><strong>HISTORY OF THE TOWNSHIP</strong></center>
Jenner township is a pleasant and prosperous farming community. It was organized in 1811 out of part of Quemahoning township, and named for Dr. Edward Jenner, the discoverer and advocator of vaccination. It is large in territory, and embraces within its limits one borough and one prosperous village.
This township contains valuable deposits of iron ore and limestone. Coal is mined to a considerable extent for local use. Other minerals, including silver and copper, have been found in the township.
The early settlers of this township were the Reeds, Boyds, Covers, Hoffmans, Duncans, Hanlines, Ankenys, Hares and others. Most of the pioneers of this locality came from Brother’s Valley and other early settled portions of Somerset county.
The first gristmill in the township was erected by the general cooperation of the citizens. It stood at Jenner Crossroads, and was probably erected some years prior to 1800. The first individual owner was Thomas Faith. The first sawmill was built by Samuel Steel. Henry S. Picking opened his hotel in 1830. The first store in the township was kept by Samuel Elder, near Picking’s hotel, about 1830.
Among the representative citizens of Jenner township are Hon. William S. Morgan, at present representative to the state legislature, and Adam S. Shaffer, now holding the office of county commissioner. Henry Rauch, Esq. has resided on a farm near Jennerstown since 1852, and has been justice of the peace since 1874.
The Jackson furnace was erected on Laurel Hill creek, near the Pittsburgh turnpike, by Irwin Herald, Philip Murphy and Charles Ogle, about 1823. After running a few years unprofitably, it ceased operations, but was again put in blast by Joseph and William Graham about 1833. Shortly after it went out of blast forever. Jacob Cover cut the first wood for this furnace in 1824. He is still living, and is now in the eighty-fifth year of his age. Mr. Cover came to this township with his father in 1798.
The area of Jenner township is 40,788 acres or about sixty-three and three-fourths square miles. It contained 259 farms and had a population of 5,560 persons in 1930.
<center><strong>AREA LORE</strong></center>
<a href=”articles.php?article_id=133″><u>Devil Carr</u></a> — <a href=”articles.php?article_id=135″><u>Events at Picking\’s Hotel</u></a> — <a href=”articles.php?article_id=134″><u>How Snowballs Saved Boswell</u></a>
<center><strong>BIOGRAPHIES</strong></center>
<a href=”http://www.pa-roots.org/data/read.php?720,571459″><u>Daniel Biesecker</u></a> — <a href=”http://www.pa-roots.org/data/read.php?720,571460″><u>Griffith Family</u></a> — <a href=”http://www.pa-roots.org/data/read.php?720,571350″><u>John Lohr</u></a> — <a href=”http://www.pa-roots.org/data/read.php?720,571344″><u>Capt. Noah S. Miller</u></a> — <a href=”http://www.pa-roots.org/data/read.php?720,571345″><u>Samuel J. Miller</u></a> — <a href=”http://www.pa-roots.org/data/read.php?720,571458″><u>Henry S. Picking</u></a><br>
<a href=”http://www.pa-roots.org/data/read.php?720,571553″><u>Robert Smiley</u></a> — For more Jenner Township biographies, search <a href=”http://www.pa-roots.org/data/list.php?720″><u>here</u></a>
<center><strong>CHURCHES</strong></center>
<a href=”articles.php?article_id=129″><u>Evangelical Churches</u></a> — <a href=”articles.php?article_id=126″><u>Hoffman Lutheran</u></a> — <a href=”articles.php?article_id=128″><u>Hopewell Methodist Episcopal</u></a> — <a href=”articles.php?article_id=130″><u>Reformed Churches</u></a><br>
<strong>Brethren</strong>
Quemahoning church, of the German Baptists or Brethren, was organized in 1848. It now comprises two hundred members, and has four meeting-houses. The present bishop is T. Blough, Staunton Mills.
<strong>United Brethren</strong>
The United Brethren church, at Jenner Crossroads, was organized in 1847 by Rev. William Beighle. Among the first members were Jonas Ankeny and wife, Deborah Johnson and the Cooper family. Rev. John Sitman, the first preacher, was succeeded by Rev. William Beighle. The present pastor is Rev. A.E. Fulton. The meeting-house was erected in 1849 at a cost of one thousand dollars. The present membership of the church is forty, and of the sabbath school sixty.
<center><strong>TAX LISTS & CENSUS</strong></center>
<a href=”articles.php?article_id=125″><u>1817</u></a> — <a href=”articles.php?article_id=387″><u>1876 Landowners</u></a>
<center><strong>TOWNS & VILLAGES</strong></center>
<a href=”articles.php?article_id=132″><u>Boswell</u></a> – <a href=”articles.php?article_id=131″><u>Jenner Crossroads</u></a> – <a href=”articles.php?article_id=127″><u>Jennerstown</u></a><br>
<strong>Acosta</strong>
Acosta is a mining town in the southeastern part of the township. It was laid out by the Consolidation Coal Company in 1907.
<strong>Ferrelton</strong>
Ferrelton is a small village in the southeastern part of the township. It was founded by Forrest L. Ferrel in 1909.
<strong>Gray</strong>
Gray (Biesecher) is a mining town in the sourther part of the township. It was laid out by the Consolidation Coal Company in 1913.
<strong>Jenner</strong>
Jenner (No. 2) is a mining town in the southeastern part of the township. It was laid out by the Consolidation Coal Company in 1907.
<strong>Randolph</strong>
Randolph is a mining town in the eastern part of the township. It was laid out by the Randolph Coal Company in 1907.
1817 Jenner Township Assessor’s List
The following is the assessor’s list of taxable inhabitants of Jenner township, for the year 1817:
Christopher Beatzy………………………………….Jas. Lyon
Adam Blough (sawmill)……………………………..John Lander
Peter Bisel………………………………………………John Lear
Peter Blough (still)……………………………………Peter Lame
Henry Blough…………………………………………..Chris. Miller
Jac. Blough………………………………………………Jona. Miller
Fred Biskeaker…………………………………………Jos. Miller
Sam Berkey……………………………………………..Henry Miller
Jos. Berkey………………………………………………Chris. Miller
“big” Jos. Berkey………………………………………Thos. McCullough
John Burntrager………………………………………..Peter McNulty
Peter Baumgartner……………………………………Val. Mishler
Benj. Bowman…………………………………………..John Morrison
Dav. Berkey………………………………………………Peter Miller (joiner)
Dav. Beatty……………………………………………….Dan. Miller
John Bisal (blacksmith)……………………………….John Murphy (tavern)
Geo. Barron………………………………………………John McFarlan
Wm. Boyd (still)…………………………………………Jas. Murray (blacksmith)
Dan. Biskeakor………………………………………….Jas. Mitchell (tavern)
John Berky………………………………………………..Dav. Powel
Jas. Boyd………………………………………………….Robt. Peter
Jac. Boyer…………………………………………………Jac. Phenix
Sam. Boyle………………………………………………..Wm. Rea (tavern)
Jos. Christ…………………………………………………Mich. Rea
Andrew Campbell……………………………………….Gabriel Roade
Mich. Campbell…………………………………………..Wm. Rose
John Commer (still)……………………………………..Eli Ritter
Jos. Cooper……………………………………………….Jac. Risherberger
Chas. Cooper…………………………………………….John Risherberger
John Craig…………………………………………………John Right
Jas. Campbell (shoemaker)………………………….Jac. Robertson (miller)
Hannah Craig…………………………………………….John Reed
Mich. Cable………………………………………………..Hugh Reed (grist & sawmill)
John Cooper………………………………………………Jac. Riffle
Andrew Dennison (gristmill & still)…………………Mich. Spicker
John Dennison (tavernkeeper & postmaster)….Peter Spicker
Sam. Duncan……………………………………………..John Shaly (blacksmith)
Sam. Deetz………………………………………………..Mich. Stuff (blacksmith)
Godfrey Darr (shoemaker)……………………………Wm. Storm (weaver)
Davis & Bleain…………………………………………….Dav. Simpson
John Engle (joiner)……………………………………..Henry Sheaver
John Friedline…………………………………………….Simon Sheaver (distiller)
Geo. Friedline…………………………………………….Sam. Steel (sawmill)
John Fulmer………………………………………………Geo. Stern
Wm. Frame (weaver)………………………………….Robt. Trimble (shoemaker)
Moses Frame (sawmill)……………………………….Sam. Thomas
Peter Friedline…………………………………………..Arthur Taylor
William Griffith…………………………………………..Mich. Thomas
Thos. Griffith, Sr………………………………………..Elizabeth Umburn
Thos. Griffith, Jr…………………………………………Anthony Wertz
Jesse Griffith…………………………………………….Anthony Waggoner (wagonmaker)
Abner Griffith…………………………………………….Robt. Wilson (grist & sawmill & postoffice)
John Goan (wheelwright)……………………………Ph. Wyant
Jac. Goan…………………………………………………Dav. Wyant
Dan’l Gallaher (shoemaker)………………………..Sol. Wilson
John Goan (of Adam)…………………………………Geo. Woy
John Goan, Sr…………………………………………..Robt. Wallace
Sam. Griffith……………………………………………..Jeffery Yoder
Williamson Griffith……………………………………..
Hamilton Goudy………………………………………..Single freemen:
Andrew Hackman (tailor)……………………………Peter Miller
Abr. Hershberger………………………………………Emanuel Myers (wagonmaker)
Jac. Hoffman…………………………………………….Jac. Miller
Ph. Hoffman…………………………………………….Thos. Christian
Edw. Hair………………………………………………..Sam. Riffle
Matthew Hair…………………………………………..John Blough
John Hair…………………………………………………John Anderson
Jac. Hoffman, Jr………………………………………..Robt. Frame
Alex. Hanlon…………………………………………….John Boyd
Henry Howard………………………………………….Chris. Kesler
Jas. Hattry………………………………………………Jas. Lyon
Peter Hostetler………………………………………..John Daniels
Jos. Hostetler…………………………………………..Jos. Daniels
Benj. Hershberger…………………………………….Sam. Murphy (joiner)
John Hoover (shoemaker)………………………….Robt. Dennison (storekeeper)
Abr. Hershberger……………………………………..Thos. McAffy
Fred. Horner (gunsmith)……………………………Henry Goan (miller)
Dan. Horner…………………………………………….Chris. Boyer, Jr. (miller)
Thos. Johnson (tavern)……………………………..Jas. Alexander
Mich. Kover……………………………………………..Robt. Potter
Jac. Kesler………………………………………………Wm. Faith
Sol. Keyzbeer………………………………………….John Faith
John Kesler……………………………………………..Sol. Wilson
Henry Kennedy………………………………………..Peter Althouse
Jac. Kuster………………………………………………John McCain (wagondriver)
Conrad Keiser………………………………………….Rodgers Marchel
Geo. Kime……………………………………………….Wm. Dayley
Sam. Kime………………………………………………John Hanlon
Jac. Lehman……………………………………………Adam Hoop
John Lehman………………………………………….John Craig
Isaac Lehman…………………………………………Alex. Hamline (assessor)
In the foregoing list, other occupations than farmers and jobbers are designated.
(Source: History of Bedford, Somerset & Fulton Counties, PA; 1884)
About Author
