Upper Turkeyfoot Township

Byadmin

Sep 14, 2015

<center>HISTORY OF THE TOWNSHIP</center>
Upper Turkeyfoot township was organized in 1848, its territory, up to that date, having been included in the old township of Turkey-Foot. This region was settled early, but much of the land, owing to its mountainous and rugged features, still remains uncleared. A large number of the early settlers were Irish. Many of their descendants are still living upon the original homesteads.

John Henry, whose father was a revolutionary soldier, moved from McConnellsburg to this township about 1808. During the years 1808-10 there were but few families in the vicinity. The Whipkeys–Henry, David and George; Peter Gary, who had been a fifer in the revolutionary war, and Nicholas and James Knight, with their families, were the only settlers in Mr. Henry’s neighborhood, in this township. After settling here, John Henry married Elizabeth Imel, daughter of Henry Imel, of Fayette county. They had seven sons. Jacob, who is the eldest, has always resided in this township. He lives on the old homestead, and is now seventy-two years of age. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Peter Gary, and granddaughter of the revolutionary fifer above mentioned. They have reared eleven children, five of whom are living. Other early settlers were John Cunningham, Jacob and Frederick Younkin and Henry Kreger.

Rudolph Meyers, a native of Stony Creek township, settled in Upper Turkeyfoot about 1838, purchasing a farm of Barney Conolly. He died in 1874. Mr. Meyers was the father of eight children. His eldest son, Jonas, served in the late war from August, 1862, to June, 1865, in Co. C, 142d regt. Penn. Vols., and was wounded at Hatcher’s Run and Cold Harbor. He purchased the farm on which he lives from William J. Baer in 1867.

William Eicher, a native of Fayette county, settled in this township in 1845. John Eicher, brother of William, is also a native of Fayette county, and has resided in this township since 1850. Mr. Eicher has held several township offices. The farms owned by William and John Eichler formerly belonged to James Cunningham, now deceased.

Baltzer Gerhard, a native of Germany, came to Brother’s Valley township in 1826. His son Jacob came to America with him in 1819, and in 1845 settled in this township. He has served as justice of the peace for twenty-three years. Jacob B. Gerhard, son of Jacob, is a native of this township. He was engaged in teaching for a time, but since 1881 has been carrying on the mercantile business in Kingwood.

Probably the first gristmill in Upper Turkeyfoot was built by Matthew Pinkerton, near Paddytown. It was rebuilt several times, and finally converted into a distillery, which was burned. About 1840 the old mill became a noted place, owing to the operations of a band of counterfeiters, who made it their headquarters. The manufacture of spurious silver coin was carried on quite extensively for some time, but at length the counterfeiters were discovered, and some of them punished.

Jacob Augustine is a native of Addison township, where both his father, Peter Augustine, Jr., and his grandfather, Peter Augustine, lived. In 1861 Mr. Augustine came to Upper Turkeyfoot, and purchased a farm of three hundred acres of Samuel McMillen.

In 1880 a manufacturing industry, which promised to be important, was undertaken in this township. Markel & Co., of Pittsburgh, erected a large pulpmill, and began the manufacture of paper pulp from spruce. The business was carried on for about two years, when the company failed, and the property passed into the hands of an assignee.

<center>BIOGRAPHIES</center>
<a href=”http://www.pa-roots.org/data/read.php?720,609564″>John Cunningham</a> — <a href=”http://www.pa-roots.org/data/read.php?720,609796″>John Gary</a> — <a href=”http://www.pa-roots.org/data/read.php?720,609563″>Henry Kreger</a> — <a href=”http://www.pa-roots.org/data/read.php?720,363822,363822#msg-363822″>Frederick Younkin</a> — <a href=”http://www.pa-roots.org/data/read.php?720,363821,363821#msg-363821″>Jacob Younkin</a>

<center>CHURCHES</center>
<a href=”articles.php?article_id=321″>Kingwood Churches</a> — <a href=”articles.php?article_id=319″>Paddytown Methodist Episcopal</a> — <a href=”articles.php?article_id=320″>Wesley Chapel Methodist Episcopal</a> 
Casselman Union Church — The Union church at Casselman was erected in 1878, by the Lutherans, Methodists, United Brethren and the Evangelical Association. It was dedicated by Rev. J. Metzger, of the United Brethren, who was the first pastor of that denomination. His successors have been Revs. J. Potter, J. N. Munden and B. F. Noon.

<center>TAX LISTS</center>
<a href=”articles.php?article_id=318″>1848</a>

<center>TOWNS & VILLAGES</center>
<a href=”articles.php?article_id=323″>Casselman</a> — <a href=”articles.php?article_id=322″>Kingwood</a> — <a href=”articles.php?article_id=325″>Markleton</a> 
Paddytown is a small settlement, so named from the fact that the earliest settlers in the locality were nearly all Irishmen. A postoffice was established at Paddytown probably as early as 1820. John K. McMillen was the first postmaster.

Markleton
The village of Markleton is a small village on the railroad, seven miles west of Rockwood. It probably derives its name from Markle pulp works, which was established near by in 1880, and which promised to develop into a great industry, but was abandoned at the end of two years.

This little village nestles between the hills in one of the most picturesque spots along the Baltimore & Ohio railroad. It owes its chief importance to a large sanitarium. This institution is probably the second largest building of any kind in Somerset county. It is thoroughly equipped for its intended purpose, and certainly is a place where the invalid and seeker after health may find rest and quiet. This sanitarium has from its first opening, in 1800, enjoyed a high degree of prosperity. There is an electric light plant attached. This, on the night of November 21, 1903, was destroyed by fire in which M. O’Brien, wife and child were burned to death.