User talk:Wildman103

Henry's Valley Burial Ground
(AKA: Pioneer Cemetery) Going south from Blain across Bower mountain, you will find what is known as Henry's valley. It takes its name from Christian Henry, who was one of the early settlers of the valley and made his living by working at the steam tannery which was located near laurel run and just south of pioneer Cemetery. Several warrants were taken out shortly after the Revolutionary war for mountainous "land which was then in Cumberland county but now Jackson Twp. Perry county Pa. On the 31 st of Jan. 1787.David Diehl had a warrant for 300 acres, including the improvements on laurel run, adjoining Elk Hill, which included a bottomland called "Nettle bottom". Another warrant was issued on August 1st 1788 to Philip Christian for 200 acres. This is recorded in book I-U page 223 in Cumberland county court house. When Perry county was formed in 1820, this out of the way place was called by the old classic name of "Pandemonium" the abode for all demons. about 1840 I.J.McFarland Obtained Quite a large amount of the mountain land. He built a large steam Tannery on the north bank of laurel run and east of the old township road which lead from Blain to Newville.

Mcfarland sold the tannery business to James Marshall, who later sold it to Samuel Lupfer. The Lupfer operated the tannery for quite a few years. The next known owners and operators were the Ahl brothers of Newville. The tannery failed to function after 1890. The people who came into the valley were the Hardiest kind. They were mountaineers who built their houses, stables and sheds of logs, which were cut dubbed and hewn in the immediate area. There were no stores in the valley and no mail or telephone closer than 8 miles. In order to have these luxuries they could walk or go on horse back across Kittatinny or Blue mountain to Newville or across Bower mountain to Blain or down shaffer's valley to Landisburg. It was almost impossible to get a doctor when you needed him, so, many of the children died in child birth. A school house was built near the center of the sparsely populated area shortly before the civil war. this building was also used for religious purposes. Even though there were no churches in the valley, these people had strong religious beliefs. About 75 yards north of the school house you will find the Pioneer cemetery with a stone wall bounding the eastern and southern sides. Christian Henry, born 1790 and died in 1871, is buried here. The following is inscribed on his monument: Blessed are the dead who die in the lord. " Catherine Henry, wife of Christian, is buried with her husband. Both were over 80 years of age at death. Julian Neidigh, born 1799 died in 1889 at the age of 90. You will find the following on her grave stone. " A precious one from us is gone a voice we loved is stilled a place is vacant in our house which never can be filled." The Julian Neidigh path leads from the run area across Bower mountain to the Julian Neidigh home which was in the western end of the valley. Two civil war veterans are Buried in the cemetery. They are John Neidigh and David Shambaugh. Many children were buried in the southeastern corner with nothing but mountain stones to show their graves. The people were very industrious. They cleared some of the land and were able to grow their own vegetables, some corn and also some hay for their few animals. They grew apples, cherries and pears. Samuel Miller owned and operated a cider press which was powered by a tread mill where a horse was used for the purpose. Some of the cider was use in the making of apple butter, some was used for making vinegar, some for drinking. Especially on butchering days and when they cut ice for storage in the few ice houses. These early pioneers were good hunters. They also did a lot of fishing in the mountain streams. In those day there were no game laws and no wardens, so the people were able to get much of their living from the forest. There were practically no other hunter in the area, so they had a great area in which to hunt and fish. About 1900 Joseph Lightner of Sheaffers Valley and Thomas Martin of near Loysville were able to purchase large portions of the land. Much of the forest was heavily wooded with chestnut trees. Many of these trees were cut into 5' lengths and floated down Laurel run to near Landisburg or above where Laurel run empties into Shermans Creek. This was known as extract wood which was then shipped by rail to Newport for Tanning purposes. The big steaming tannery closed down in 1890 and the extract business did not work out to well financially. The people of the valley were compelled to leave in order that they could obtain an honest living. Many crossed the Blue mountain to Cumberland county. Some crossed Bower Mt. To Blain area, and others moved down Sheaffer's valley into the area around Landisburg. My brother Mark Taught in the valley during the school term of 1904-05 for the large amount of 28$ per month. He roomed and boarded with old Muzzy Bitner for 7$ a month. He had 24 pupils enrolled with 22 of them on the picture. By 1911 all the inhabitants had moved out except the William Dundar family and the Frank Sundays. Dervin Shumaker taught the winter of 1911-1912 with 4 students. William Dunbars vacated the valley in 1912, leaving only the Sunday family. Leslie Shumaker was the last teacher with one student, namely, Pierce Sunday. Frank Sunday was the forest ranger for this area and moved to Blain in 1913. There have been many interesting stories told of some of the happenings in this valley. David Shambaugh, who helped free the slaves in the civil war, was killed while hauling bark to Lupfer's tannery, leaving a wife and 4 small children. Two of these children were placed in the soldier's orphanage. James Hazel was hunting on Bowers mountain and failed to return. After searching for 2 days, his body was found on the sun side of the mountain, near the path which bears his name. There was no doubt in the minds of those who found his body that he was murdered by an unknown character. At the time of the civil war when the Confederate army was ravaging the Cumberland Valley, many farmers drove their cattle across the Kittatinny or Blue mountain by way of the three square hollow road to near what is known as the Cowpen's road. They built a hurried inclosure for the cattle with poles that were in the area. The cattle that were secluded here were saved for the farmers. This is known today as the cowpen's and is at the extreme western end of Henry's valley. The story has been told many times by an old citizen of the valley, that a black girl who was escaping from the south by way of the underground railroad, was treed by several coon dogs during the night and mistakenly shot down by hunters. She is supposed to have been buried outside the cemetery, near the big white oak tree which stands close to the northeast corner of the cemetery. A large and destructive fire occurred on top Bower mountain about 1914. A man by the name of Schweitzer, was sold many small articles, such as needles, pins, thread, handkerchiefs, and other items, was traveling by foot across the mountain, when coming near horse head rocks, the smoke and fire became so in tense that he went out on the rocks for safety. It is supposed that he was overcome by smoke which caused him to fall from the rocks, and lose his life. The inhabitants were brave, rugged, honest and religious. John Bitner, born in the valley moved into Duncannon area and later became one of Perry county's Democratic commissioners. Luther Henry a great grandson of Christian Henry, who was called after Martin Luther, became a Lutheran minister. The Pa. Dept. Of Environmental Resources owns almost all of this area, except for several tracts on which you may find some hunting camps. The old log buildings have mostly rotted, the Schoolhouse is gone, " a pile of stones is all that remain" a part of the foundation of the old tannery near the stream is about all that one can expect to find now. The cemetery will be land marked for the ages to come, the mountain will stand as long as time, and the beautiful Laurel run with its fresh water will reach the great ocean beyond.