Page:Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania, Containing a Concise History of the Two Counties and a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Representative Families.pdf/301

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COLUMBIA AXD MONTOUR COUNTIES

K. Oeuy* a schoolhouse, church and a few dwellings. There are no industries. P in e Sum m it, in the western part of the township, w as the most pretentious of the vil­ lages here. T he hrst merchant there was R. V. Lyons, who w as also the first postmaster, continuing in office from 1866 to 1889. The present storekee|>cr is W. C. Sw artz. Simon Whitmoyer opened the first blacksmith shop. H is modem successor is H. D. Ncupher. The most important industry here was the distil­ lery o f j. R. Fowler, operated from tS8o to 1883. Although it made a fine quality o f goods, it was too fa r from railroads to be a success. T he last owner in 19 10 w*as Jam es C. Hough­ ton. It is now closed down. The townspeople arc ser*ed in a mercantile way through the tradesmen o f Millville. CHURCHES

St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church w*as o r^ n ized in 1879 by Rev. N. A. Whitman. His successor. Rev. O. D. S. M arclcy, dedi­ cated the first church building in 1880. T he officers of the congregation at this time w*cre John Bniner. P. W. Sones. Samuel Eckman and A. E. Girton. Soon after this the con­

gregation had a disruption and disbanded. The church is now occupied by the Evattgeltcal congregation and is regularly ser>xd by the ]>astor from Unityville. The Methodist Church in the extreme north­ ern part of the township was built on land donated by Hhomas Faus, and has since home his name. It is a fine frame building ami is served from Millville, the con gr^ation being under the charge of the pastors o f that place. SCHOOI.S— WiPtIC..TlOV

There are eight schools in the tow*nship at present, taught by the same number o f teach­ ers, male and female being equally divided, ami there arc 2 15 .scholars in attendance. The school directors a r e : John Gardner, Erastus Kline, H. P. Shaner, Jam es Ocmm ens, 1.. G. Shultz. The population o f Pine township in 1S60 w as 5 5 5 : in 1870, 760: in 1880, q i t; in 1890. 9 6 5; in 1900. 9 7 6 : in 19 10, 834. Iota I ^ lg e, N o. 7 1 1, F. & A. M .. was removeeriods since it has been shorn o f territor}' until it finally reached its present dimensions. Catawissa mountain on the east­ ern boundary forms a natural barrier between it and Schuylkill county, while on the south a spur o f Little mountain and several hills break up the landscape into picturesque beauty. Thta township is entirely agricultural* but the broken cbameter of the land is such as to interfere greatly with farming ofie ration s. The name o f Roaringcreek is now hardly applicable, as since the year 1850, when Montour county w as formed, most of the territory through which Roaring crock meamlcrs has been taken from the township. The Indians gave the ruime o f Popcmetung to this creek. .AiiKing the first persons who came to this section w*ere Samuel Hunter and Uczalicl H ay­ hurst- T he fonner secure<l a patent in 1774

for a tract known as the Trout Springs farm , southeast o f M ill Grove. .Mexander liu n ter succeeded 10 the farm after his father’s death in 1784, and from him it passed into the liands o f (icorgc Randall, then into the possession of .Abram Whitner* bis son John, and his descend­ ants. Other later settlers in this town.ship were Samuel and Anthony M orris, Hugh and Michael Hughes* Francis and Barbara Artilla. Henry Hartzcl. Andrew* Helwig, John Hemmingcr, lohn Harmon, George (»roli. George Duval, Jitephcii PcalKxly, George Dewees. 1784. and others who resided in that section were Jonallian Pearson, Bartholomew Wambach. and the W ilsons and Robinsons. The moutitain lands alx>ve Mill creek were owned by Christian Immcl. Peter M innkh. Frederick Wagoner. William Lanion, C hristbn Shultz. The best farm ing land in the township cam e at first into the hands o f Matthew* M cGlatb. Charles Tnickenmiller, John M cK ay, Jacob
 * dam Zantzinger settled on Mill creek in

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