MIFFLIN COUNTY, PA

Our History

HISTORY OF MIFFLIN COUNTY

Our history is important to understand because it creates a picture of who we are and where we come from. By understanding our past we can gain an appreciation of the sacrifices of those who have gone before us and have paved the way to what we have become.

This presentation will serve as our reminder that our history, the history of Mifflin County, is important to us and that we at Indian Valley High School will honor our past by taking time to understand it and honor those who have went before us.

HISTORY OF MIFFLIN COUNTY

From Franklin Ellis' History of That Part of the Susquehanna and Juniata ValleysEmbraced in the Counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder.  Philadelphia, 1886.

Chapter 1: Civil History - Erection of County - Location - Seat of Justice - Public Buildings - Provision for the Poor - Rosters of Officials-1780 to 1883 - Population. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pamiffli/ellis/ellis-1.htm

Chapter 2: The Bench and Bar - Early Courts - The Lewistown Riot of 1791 - Biographical Sketches - Rosters of Judges and Attorneys. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pamiffli/ellis/ellis-2.htm

Chapter 3: Medical Profession - Early and Late Practitioners - County Medical Societies. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pamiffli/ellis/ellis-3.htm

Chapter 4:The Borough of Lewistown. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pamiffli/ellis/ellis-4.htm

Chapter 5: Derry Township. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pamiffli/ellis/ellis-5.htm

Chapter 6: Armagh Township. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pamiffli/ellis/ellis-6.htm

Chapter 7: Wayne Township. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pamiffli/ellis/ellis-7.htm

Chapter 8: Borough Newton Hamilton. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pamiffli/ellis/ellis-8.htm

HISTORY OF MIFFLIN COUNTY

Chapter 9: Oliver Township. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pamiffli/ellis/ellis-9.htm

Chapter 10: Borough McVeytown. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pamiffli/ellis/ellis-10.htm

Chapter 11: Bratton Township. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pamiffli/ellis/ellis-11.htm

Chapter 12: Union Township. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pamiffli/ellis/ellis-12.htm

Chapter 13: Menno Township. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pamiffli/ellis/ellis-13.htm

Chapter 14: Brown Township. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pamiffli/ellis/ellis-14.htm

Chapter 15: Granville Township. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pamiffli/ellis/ellis-15.htm

Chapter 16: Decatur Township. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pamiffli/ellis/ellis-16.htm

Thomas Mifflin

Thomas Mifflin

General Thomas Mifflin was one of the most distinguished of the Pennsylvania delegates who signed the federal constitution. He was born in 1744, of parents who were Quakers or Friends. His education was entrusted to the Rev. Dr. Smith, with whom he was connected in cordial intimacy for more than forty years. Active and zealous, he engaged early in opposition to the measures of the British Parliament. He was a member of the first Congress in 1774. He took arms, and was among the first officers commissioned on the organization of the continental army, being appointed quartermaster general in August, 1775. For this offence he was read out of the Society of Quakers. In 1777 he was very useful in animating the militia, and enkindling the spirit which seemed to have been damped; but he was also suspected in this year of being unfriendly to the commander-in-chief, and of wishing to have some other person appointed in his place. His sanguine disposition and his activity might have rendered him insensible to the value of that coolness and caution which were essential to the preservation of such an army as was then under the command of Washington.    In 1787, General Mifflin was a member of the convention which framed the constitution of the United States, and his name is affixed to that instrument. In October, 1788, he succeeded Franklin as president of the supreme executive council of Pennsylvania, in which station he continued till October, 1790. In September a constitution for this State was formed by a convention, in which he presided, and he was chosen the first governor. In 1794, during the insurrection in Pennsylvania, he employed to the advantage of his country the extraordinary powers of elocution with which he was endowed. The imperfection of the militia laws was compensated by his eloquence. He made a circuit through the lower counties, and at different places publicly addressed the militia on the crisis in the affairs of their country, and through his animating exhortations the State furnished the quota required. He was succeeded in the office of governor by Mr. McKean, at the close of the year 1799, and died at Lancaster, January 20, 1800, in the fifty-seventh year of his age. He was an active and zealous patriot, who had devoted much of his life to the public service.

Source: Marshall, James V.. The United States Manual of Biography and History. Philadelphia: James B. Smith & Co., 1856. Pages 177-178.

Thomas MifflinWhereas it appears in and by a Proclamation of the President of the United States, bearing even date herewith, that certain acts have been perpetrated in the western parts of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which he is advised amount to treason, being overt acts of levying war against the United States; that James Wilson, an Associate Justice, on the fourth instant, by writing under his hand, did, from evidence which had been laid before him, notify to the President, that in the Countries of Washington and Allegheny in Pennsylvania, laws of the United States are opposed, and the execution thereof obstructed, by combinations too powerful to be suppressed by the ordinary course of judicial proceedings, or by the powers vested in the Marshal of the district; and that in the judgment of the President it is necessary, under the circumstances of the case, to take measures for calling forth the Militia, in order to suppress the combinations aforesaid, and to cause the laws to be duly executed: AND WHEREAS it appears to me expedient, that, on this extraordinary occasion, the General Assembly should be convened, for the purpose of taking the premises into their serious consideration, of devising the necessary means to maintain the peace and dignity of the commonwealth, and of providing more effectually, than the existing laws provide, for organizing, arming and equipping the Militia, in order to insure a prompt and faithful compliance with the orders of government, and of such requisitions, as the President shall, make in pursuance of his constitutional and legal powers: Therefore, and by virtue of the authority in such case to me given, in and by the Constitution of the commonwealth, I have issued this Proclamation, hereby convening the General Assembly, to meet at the State-House in the City of Philadelphia, on Monday the first day of September next, and of which meeting, all persons therein concerned, are required to take due notice. GIVEN under my Hand, and the Great Seal of the said Commonwealth, at Philadelphia, this seventh day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-four, and of the Commonwealth the nineteenth. THOMAS MIFFLIN.

Thomas Mifflin

Thomas Mifflin’s statement of proclamation.

1790.

A pictorial history of Mifflin County

The above two pictures are of the Academy in Lewistown. The first

picture is the last one taken before its abandonment and the 2nd picture is

when it was in full use.

A pictorial history of Mifflin County

The above picture captures the first train coming in to the Reedsville area.

May of 1865.

A pictorial history of Mifflin County

The pictures above show the wreckage of the Tornado of July 4,

1874, which destroyed many buildings in our area. The pictures are

of the old Lewistown Bridge and Glamorgan Furnace.

A pictorial history of Mifflin County

The picture above shows Glamorgan Furnace after it was improved following

the tornado of July 4, 1874.

A pictorial history of Mifflin County

These pictures are of Yeagertown, Pa. Many students currently live in

Yeagertown and this picture, as well as the one above of the grinding shop

show the area in the 1800’s.

A pictorial history of Mifflin County

The poster above is from the Civil War. The Bucktail rifle brigade was formed in Harrisburg but had many volunteers from the Mifflin County area. The link

explains the role the “Bucktails” played in the Civil War.

A pictorial history of Mifflin County

Above is an advertisement of Coach Shops where they used to sell and repair buggies, carriages, spring wagons, and vehicles of every

description. The picture was taken in 1878.

The Music of our Past

This sheet music is from the song

“Trumpet of Freedom” created and played during the Civil War.

Mifflin County has had many of its citizens involved in the Civil

War and this piece will show students the

music played during that era.

The Music of our Past

“All of the Quakers are Shoulder Shakers” was a piece of music written about the Quakers in Pennsylvania. Students can get an idea of who the “Quakers” were and how this music described their way of life.

The Music of our Past

“Stars and Stripes Forever” is one of the most popular military song in American History. Every year from 1896 until 1928 John Phillips Sousa and his band performed in Montgomery County, Pa. Students should be familiar with famous American marches.

The Music of our Past

http://www.freeinfosociety.com/media_index.php?cat=8&type=3

This site is a fantastic resource for many primary source audio recordings. There are over 100 famous historical happenings. We will explore these audio recordings gain an understanding of the major events in American history as they happened.

Local Maps

http://www.hiddenhistory.com/PAGE3/ww-njers.htm This is a 1640 Map of the Indian Tribes and their locations in the North. It shows the Indian

settlements in the United States. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pamiffli/maps/pa-1836.jpg This is a Pennsylvania map displaying canals, railroads and distances from place to place along

the stage roads. It was published by H.S. Tanner in Philadelphia in 1863. http://www.livgenmi.com/1895/PA/County/mifflin.htm This is a map of Mifflin County in 1895. It is so condensed but will give us an opportunity to

observe our area in 1895 and gain an understanding of how much it has changed over the years. There is also a link on the site that shows students the state population as well as links to county maps and an 1895 index to towns and cities.

http://noel.mcn.org/Westmoreland/MigrationTrails.htm This map shows the main Indian paths and migration trails in Pennsylvania. Students will enjoy

looking at this map because many of the names are used today by schools and areas they are familiar with. This will give them an understanding of where these names came from as well as the basic knowledge of their local history.

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pamiffli/maps/perry-juniata-miffin.gif This is a map from the 1877 Atlas. It is a very detailed map showing the counties of Mifflin,

Juniata and Perry. Students can compare this map with the maps of today and see the changes that have taken place over the past 100 years.

Bibliography

Astorino, Samuel J. "The Contested Senate Election of William Scott Vare," Pennsylvania History, 28 (1961).

Baughman Josie. Mifflin PA Gen Web County Coordinator. 2004-2008. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pamiffli/history.html

Baughman, Josie. Mifflin PA Gen Web. County Coordinator. 2004-2008. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pamiffli/picthistory/contents.htm

Baughman, Josie. Mifflin PA Gen Web. County Coordinator. 2004-2008. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pamiffli/history3.html

Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774-Presenthttp://bioguide.congress.gov/

  ExplorePAhistory.com. 12. July 2010.

http://explorepahistory.com/images/ExplorePAHistory-a0j9g2-a_349.jpg

Kashatus, William C. "Muckraking the Governor: Samuel W. Pennypacker Battles the Philadelphia Press." Pennsylvania Heritage 28:2 (2002)

Pennsylvania History: A Journal of Mid-Atlantic Studieshttp://dpubs.libraries.psu.edu/DPubS?service=UI&version=1.0&verb=Displ...

Swanton John R.. Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin 145—1953. http://www.hiddenhistory.com/PAGE3/ww-njers.htm

University Library. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Blog. Photo. http://www.library.illinois.edu/blog/digitizedbotw/trumpetblog.gif