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/444

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COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES ship is the settlement o f Ridgft^ilU, whiclt sprang up in the days of the old stage road to Danville, and then sank into gradual decay when the coach was superseded by the rail­ road. the track o f which runs some distance south of the spot. Ridge ville once boasted a tavern to accommodate the traveler. R F X IiilO U S

Upon the summit o f a hill south o f Cirovania, embowered in the remnant o f a noble forest, stands a small brick church. Wideflung doors on either side of the front give invitation to enter* and within <lim quiet in­ clines the w ayfarer to rest and pray. Upon a stone tablet let into the front under (he eaves are these w ords: “ St. Peter’s Kirche* Ercchtet 1856/’ in German text. Behind the

old church is the bur)*ing ground, wherein lie the remaiits o f many of the forefathers o f eastern Montour and western Columbia counties. This church is used alternately by (he Lutheran and Reform ed denominations. St. Jam es' Church, at Ridgcville, was built about the same time as S t Peter's and (he history of the latter is that of the fonner. SCHOOLS

There arc four K^hools in this township, most of them being located on the sites u s ^ since the first establishment of the public school system here. T he school directors of the townsliip are Jacob M. Shultz. A lfred Blecher, E. W. W elliver. Edw ard Cashner, Benjamin Duck.

CHAPTER X III D E R R Y T O W N S H IP — W A S H IN G T O N V IL L E B O R O U G H l l i i s is one of the oldest townships and set­ tlements o f Montour county. A M r. Brittain, whose given name has b e ^ lost in the span o f time between the past and present, w as the earliest settler in the territory that later be­ came Washingtonville. His son. Nathaniel Brittain, lived to the ripe old age o f four­ score years and more on the old family place, ami the legal f^pers that he often exhibited with pride to his friends and neighbors indisjmtaUly proved his title to the family home­ stead. Another vcr>* early settler was Jacob Shultz, who in 1790 settled in what is now Limestone ville, from which place he moved to Derr)* townshm after a tenancy o f one year. He dietl in and was buried in Derry Church graveyard, During this year an epi­ demic 01 typhoid fever broke out in the com­ munity and carried off many people, . othcr very early resident of Washingtonville was Matthew Calvin. No trace o f his posterity can lie found in the modem annals of the com­ munity. He built (he old frame mill which was a Uindmark in (he early days of the village; twice the structure was devastated by fire and as often rebuilt. Another pioneer w as loseph Hutchinson, who settled near Waslungtonville in the earliest times. Another was W illiam A . McCormick, father o f Jam es ^^cCom iick. who afterw ards received honors from his native county. Wflliam Shaw was

another settler at (hat tim e: his daughter M argaret w^as the w ife o f William A . M c­ Cormick. Jam es McCormick %vas a colonel of militia, served two terms in the State Legis­ lature, and his descendants are among the prominent families o f Derry' township in 1QI4. In k8 i 2 a sawmill, the first in the tow'nship, w as erected by John Steininan. who se le ct^ a site half a mile above the Rillmcycr place. A little later in the same year another mill w as built, by John Auien, who a fte r exjierinienting fo r two years found business good enough to add a gristm ill to his lumber enterim sc, and at the same time erected a hou.sc. gristmill long has passed from the ken of man and the sawmill followcil it into oblivion. John Wilson was another early settler of the community. He locate<l near the Billmeyer place, and died on the farm which he purchased. Stephen E llis and his w ife Ucanor (Cunningham) were also pioneers of the township, emigrating to the vicinity from Donegal, Ireland. A son, Stephen, was tiom lo them in their new home 011 M ay 15, 1807.

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Washingtonville and Danville are the oldest settlements in Montour county. T his is the only borough in the county outside o f Danville, the date o f its charter being A pril 28. 1870.