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HISTORICI
CM? TJ ISDm c' O,. T FN S171'C ? oV
MORRISONS COVE
cBY REV. C. W. KARNS
I
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED
IN THE ALTOONA MIRROR
MIRROR PRESS
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(Copyright, 1933, by Altoona Mirror.)
(All Rights Reserved.)
P R E F A C E
If( EVEREND KARNS has written an interesting History of
Il MIorrisons Cove as the reader will discover when he comes
to read this book and look at the illustrations which are shown
in it.
It is largely biographical, dealing with the personal lives of
individuals and families.
The first pioneers who came to Morrisons Cove were Swiss,
Scotch Irish, and Germans. They came armed with that trinity
of the American Pioneer, the rifle, the axe and the Bible. They
were compelled to defend their families from. the attacks of
savage beasts and still more savage men with the rifle. They
were also dependent upon the game that was procured from the
forest through its use.
The axe was used to cut and notch the trees that were used
in the building of their log cabins and also it was used to clear
the land of the giant forests that covered the entire surface of
Penn's 'Woods.
A skilled axeman could notch a log as perfect as if the carp
had been sawed in and there are many houses yet standing in
Morrisons Cove that if the weather board were removed, would
attest to the skill of the axeman who cut the notches at the cor-
ners of the house by which the logs were laid up round on round.
The axe also devastated the forests of Pennsylvania first for the
'charcoalf urnaces whose hungry maws eat up tens of thousands
cords of wood and later what was remaining, was cut down for
the growing -demands of saw mills that made lumber for the
markets. As late as 1871 Pennsylvania exported more lumber
-than any other state in the Union. Now, in 1933, we must import
four-fifths of our lumber. The axe has done its deadly work to
our Pennsylvania forests.
The Bible was the third and most important of this trinity
of the early settlers of the Cove. They were a God-loving, God-
fearing people. They loved God and feared Him and feared little
else.
The Bible was found in every household, sometimes it was
the only book. It was their rule of conduct: Their lives were
govern'ed by it.
35*0 U02
4 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MORRISONS COVE
In its 66 books they found law, folk lore, tradition, official
records, historical narratives, epic, dramatic and lyric poetry,
proverbial philosophy, patriotic addresses, religious addresses,
parables, prayers, prophesies, biograhphies, theology, circular
letters, private letters, riddles, fables, dream literature, love
songs, patriotic songs, and songs of praise. By thirty-one differ-
ent authors over a period of fifteen hundred years, and some of
them lived in palaces and some in prisons. Some were princes
and some were peasants. Some were scholars and some were
illiterate men. Some were philosophers and some were herdsmen,
fishermen, and mechanics.
It was a Book that appealed to the pioneers of Morrisons
Cove because it approached them in the way they could best be
reached.
Is it any wonder then that by taking this Book for their guide
plus the gray matter in their brains, and the physical stamina of
their bodies, put there by the best bloods of Europe, that they
carved out of Morrisons Cove one of the most beautiful, one of
the most prosperous, one of the most ideal communities on the
face of the earth?
Reverend Karns shows this in his admirable description of
peoples, places, and results brought about by these people in
Morrisons Cove.
T. S. DAVIS.
HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MORRISONS COVE 5
INDEX
Aaron .......... 62, 121 Kochenderfer ..... ..... 235
Amick .. ........ 284 Koontz .. I11........
Armstrong ......... 58 Krichbaum ..... ..... 172
Baker ......... 196-197 Latshaw ..... ..... 118-172
Barndollar ......... 10 Lingenfelter ..... ..... 51
Bare ......... 121
Linton .... ...... 108
Bayer ......... 45-151 Little . ... 46-48-49
Beach .........2 36
Long .. .. 70
Berkheimer ......... 187
Lower ... . 37
Bechtel ......... 196
Lyon ... . 24
Biddle ......... 61-129
Blough ......... 98
Bonner ......... 53 Mails . ... 293
Bowser ......... 259 Markey . . . . 114
Brown ......... 11-129 Martin .... .. .. 251
Brumbaugh ......... 273 McNamara ..... ... 172
Butts ..... .... 119 Meloy ... .. ... 48
Byers ... .. .... 151 Metzgar ..... ... 69
Miller ...... .. 47-79
Campbell . ........ 103
Carpenter ....... .. 80 Noble ......... 105
Chamberlain ..... .... 62 Nycum . ....... 190-192
Clapper ... .. .... 284
Clouse ...... . 90-94
Over .. ...... 232 234,256-257
Cottrell ..... 165
Deluders .. .. .. 214 Patton ........ 45
Dittmar . ..... 190 Pennell ........ 269
Detwiler . .... 91-146 150 Physicians ....... .. 265
Piper ... .. ... 56
Pressell ... .. 254
Ebersole .. . 146-231
Price ........ 83
Fetter .......... 259-264
Ferry .......... 176 Replogle ........ 223
Fisher .......... 240 Rice ........ 198-199-200
Fluck .......... 84 Richey .. . ...... 47
Fortifications .......... 26 Ripley ... .. ... 35-36
Frederick .......... 9
Furry . ......... 167
Scott ... .. ... 56
Fyock .......... 215
Sell ..... ... 163-220
Smith ... .. ... 241
Geible .......... 219 Snider ........ 41
Gephart .......... 219 Snowberger ........ 32-33
Good ....... 244 Snyder ........ 55-66-203
Guyer 203 Stehley ........ 265
Stonerook ..... ... 239
Haderman .40 Stottler ... .. ... 210
Hall .271 Stuckey ... .. ... 246
Henry .201
HHoetlrsiicnkg e.r3 8.268 TTereentetr ...........................................I........................................ 224015
Hoover .... 218-219
VanHorn ....... 154
Imler 100
Jamison ..... 172 Walters ....... 135
Werking ....... 142
Karns . .... 286 Wilkinson . ...... 26-130
Keagy . ..... 9 Woodcock ....... 245
Kegarise . .... 140
King . ..... 71 Yoder . .... . . 98
S
Pioneers Settle Now Famous Cove
There is a legend that the "Cove," Has Fertile Soil.
or "Covert," was used in early days Several things- make the cove at-
as a hiding place for stolen horses tractive to the farmer. 'Not the least
by a man named Morris who was of these is the fertility of the soil.
a notorious horse-thief in the eastern Like the soil of the Holy Land se-
counties of Pennsylvania. and when lected byathe Lord to be the home of
pursued brought his stolen animals His chosen people, our soil is lime-
here for safe keeping. stone, suitable to agriculture. Then,
If we believed :the name was de- too, the abundance of pure water is
rived from him and that he really -scarcely of second importance to the
was as bad as painted, and could soil. The springs and streams of
verify that belief, it would not be which we will speak later are a rich*
difficult to arouse the people to de- possession.
mand and secure a new name. Again the proximity of markets is
We are not sure that Morrison was quite helpful and makes farming
originally Morris, nor do we know much more remunerative than lands
how we came by the "Morrison." that are far removed from industrial
Perhaps some early settler by the centers.
name of Morrison came here and his Many of the early settlers in the
name was given to the cove. The cove were Germans or Swiss, either
truth is we have no record of how coming direct from Germany or from
the name came to be applied to this the eastern part of Pennsylvania.
fertile valley. Among those who came and whose
descendants are still here we find the
Surrounded by Mountains. Brumbaughs, Replogle, Snowbperger,
Ebersole (or Eversole), Ober (or
The cove is about thirty-nine miles Over), Kegarise, Buck, Henry, Ditt-
long and averages eight miles in mar, King, Baker (or Becker), Bech-
width. It is surrounded by moun- tel, Karns, Bayer, Biddle, Butz, Het-
tains-foot hills of the Allegheny rick, Koontz, Snyder, Guyer, Teeter
mountains-chief of which is "Tus- (or Deeter), Holtzinger, Furry,
sey" (or Terrace) on the east, brok- Clouse, Latshaw, Noble, Brown, Clap-
en ranges or spurs to the north and per, Imler, Fluke, Ketring, Stuckey,
south and Cove or Dunnings on the Stayer and others whom we may
west. name later. On the whole they were
It is difficult for me to attempt a a 'home-loving, industrious, honest
description of this great valley. An people, and their sturdy ways are to
incident may help to solve my prob- be seen in their descendants. Cer-
lem. tainly I must depend on tradition for
I have a friend living in Oklahoma. much of what I shall say, but usually
He is a lawyer by profession, but well founded.
compelled to live out-of-doors be-
cause of ill health. He traveled over Streams In the Cove.
the United States largely and select-
ed his present home in that western Yellow Creek and its tributaries
state. He owns some'2,000 acres of add much of interest and value to
choice land and raises cotton and the southern end of Morrisons cove.
corn. Its rise is one mile north of Wood-
He came east and decided to drive bury, He purchased this farm in 1922.
from Altoona to Loysburg to see me. It was formerly known by the name
He drove via Martinsburg and when of the Rhinehardt Replogle farm.
he arrived at my home his chief Incidentally, I suggest that every
topic of conversation was the beauty farm ought to have a name. Owners
of Morrisons cove. It was harvest- and tenants change, but a significant
time and the song of the reaper was name would remain. Mr. Detwiler's
heard on every side. My friend said: farm name is quite appropriate. Here,
"I have traveled over nearly all of this beautiful and useful stream has
the United- States and nowhere have its source. It is fed by many other
I seen anything that excels your springs and streams as It Journeys
Morrisons cove. What splendid farm on Its way to its junction with
buildings! What beauty of land- Raystown branch of the Juniata at
scape! What fertile fields! I did Hopewell, a distance of fifteen miles
not know there was anything like it as it flows. Its main tributaries are
in Pennsylvania." High praise from Potter creek, five miles long; Three
this western gentleman farmer. Spring run, four miles long; Beaver
8 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MORRISONS COVE
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HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MORRISONS COVE 9
run, six miles and with tributaries body of water and furnishes the
five miles more, all tributaries in power to run the large mill owned
South Woodbury township. Add and operated by George Hoover's
Maple Run, five miles, coming out heirs. It produces high grade flour.
of Jack's corner, and one or two It was built by George Barndollar
other small streams in Hopewell In 1822. The water from this dam
township and we have more than was once used to help in the opera-
forty miles of streams that never tion of a furnace that stood near the
fail. We believe nothing else quite mill site.
equals it in Pennsylvania. In many Gently as the bard's "Sweet Afton,"
places this stream and its tributar- Yellow Creek, after furnishing this
ies fall rapidly and furnished excel- splendid service for man, flows
lent sites for water power plants, through the meadows on the Keagy
flour mills, sawmills, woolen mills. In farms a mile or more until it is again
early days plaster mills, clover mills interrupted by Keagy's dam. Our
and chop mills were to be found on good friend, Ira Keagy, one of the
every tributary as well as on the efficient assistants at Aitoona post-
main stream. office, who was raised here, tells us
that this dam was built in 1833, hence
An Early Sawmill. it- is just 100 years old. Abram
Keagy and his brother, Jacob, came
One-half mile from the head wa-
to Morrisons cove in Conestoga wag-
ters of Yellow Creek we find the mill
ons, coming over what is now the
owned and operated by John K.
Lincoln highway from Lancaster
Frederick and two sons, Emmert and
county in 1813. Ira Keagy is a great
Oliver, shown in the accompanying
grandson of Jacob Keagy.
picture. This mill was built in 1812
by a Mr. Dassler. Its products to- The Keagy brothers bought a large
day are varied. Here they produce tract of land south of Woodbury and
cider, chop, graham flour and corn on some of this land descendants of
meal. The sawmill originally had an these men live today. Keagy's dam
old "up and down saw." In the pic- furnished power for the mill, a saw
ture you see a saw that was worn mill and a foundry. The mill has
very much and another not much always had an excellent trade, and
worn standing upright against the Yellow Creek has furnished the
end of the logs. The mill now has power to grind thousands of bushels
a circular saw. It was in operation of grain. It has changed owners sev-
the day we made these pictures. eral times, being owned by Job Lat-
Half a mile down stream we have shaw, J. H. Hetrick, S. B. Fluke and
the Woodbury dam. This is a fine at present by U. E. Replogle.
10 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MORRISONS COVE
Woodbury Mill Is Built In 1842
The first mill at Woodbury was the needy. His advice was often
built in 1842 by George Barndollar. sought and the conclusions of his
I am indebted to our good friend, Ira ripe judgment followed with marked
Keagy, for this information and with advantage. He was just, honest and
few corrections, I am giving this as upright in all his dealings with his
he wrote it. doubtless thrilled with fellowmen and few men maintained
the fact that he is a native of this through a long life more than he the
region, and a Keagy writing of the respect and confidence reposed in
achievements of one of his own fam- him by his neighbors.
ily. Abram Keagy was an uncle of His genius,, skill and industry won
Ira's father. its certain reward and he possessed
Abraham Keagy (Machine Abe, as a goodly heritage. His genius and
he was called), settled in Morrisons skill entitles him to a place beside
cove, Bedford county, Pennsylvania, Arkwright, Howe or Ericson. So
in 1813. Machine Abe was a remark- well balanced a mind as his would
able man in many respects. His ad- be successful in any calling or pro-
vantages were exceedingly limited, fession in which he might choose to
and opportunities few to acquire an engage. His highest ambition seems
ordinary education, at that early to have been to do his duty as a man
day limited to reading, writing and in every relation in which he was
cyphering. Nature had done much placed and to do his Master's will.
for him-he was a natural mechanic
Leaves Rich Legacy.
and possessed inventive talent of the
At four score years, after a long
highest order. He c6uld construct
anything he wished, either in wood and useful life, he went to share the
or metal, and was an expert In any holy rest of a life well spent, hon-
of the mechanical arts. ored, respected and loved by all who
He invented and patented a spark knew him, leaving behind him the
arrester for railroad locomotives, richest legacy that any one can
which bears date April 29, 1842, and Oleave to his posterity, an exemplary
is said to be the first device for the life and honored name. The old mill
purpose ever used and very similar dam and mill still stand after one
to those in use at this day. It is hundred years of useful service to
said that unscrupulous parties stole the people of the cove. It stands
as a silent reminder to the industry
his ideas and reaped the benefit of
his genius. He made the patterns and perseverance of "Machine Abe,"
this hardy old pioneer, trail-blazer of
and moulds and cast the first cook
the cove. It is one of the picturesque
stoves made and used in this state.
These were a godsend to the house- spots along the new macadam high-
way which replaced the age-old
wives of more than a half century
Woodbury pike through Morrisons
ago, but would not compare in beauty
cove.
and finish with the tiled and nickle-
plated stoves of today that are found Countless automobiles speed along
in the humblest homes. its banks, their occupants admiring
the limpid blue water and the many
Built Woolen Mill. turtles sunning themselves on the
He built and owned a woolen mill. age-old logs, the west bank with its
making the carding and spinning virgin white pines whose shadows
machinery himself with the rude are mirrored in its crystal depths as
tools of that early day. He built they did a century ago.
one of the first grist and merchant The Woodbury mill and dam were
mills in his county which was first built during the year 1842 by George
built in 1833. It was hardly com- Barndollar, who continued to operate
pleted before it was stored with grain it until after the time of the Civil
by neighboring farmers, when from war. Many interesting episodes are
some unknown cause it was destroy- told concerning him in those early
ed by fire, inflicting great loss upon days. It is told that he always kept
its owner. his six mules for hauling the grain
Encouraged by his neighbors and and flour to market. The stable for
friends, he rebuilt the mill, which them was located on his farm at the
still stands and attests his indomi- upper end of the dam and when the
table energy and skill. But it is not dam was frozen over he always drove
alone as a mechanic or genius in them down to the mill across the ice.
which he excelled. He was a broad- One morning he told his driver to
gauged man, and was ever ready and bring the mules down, which he hesi-
willing to aid the deserving and help tated to do on account of the thin-