AT the December term of the Juniata County Court, in 1833, a petition was presented, asking for a new township to be formed from Fermanagh and Greenwood. Whereupon the court appointed James Hughes, George Gilliford and Alexander Patterson as viewers, who, in accordance with the order, laid out the proposed new township and reported to the court on March 24, 1834.

This report was confirmed at a court held December 4, 1834, and the new township was named " Fayette."

It is bounded by West Perry township on the north, Monroe on the east, Delaware and Walker on the south, and Fermanagh township on the west.

EARLY SETTLEMENTS. - The first settlers in this locality were designated as living on the North, the Middle or the South Forks, which unite and form the Lost, Creek, near Jericho. In early days the region of country near the confluence of these forks, and above it, was known as "the Lost Creek settlement." Conjectures are many and stories various as to how the creek obtained its name. It is mentioned in a receipt given by Edmund Physick, in charge of the Land-Office, to William Armstrong, and dated February 6, 1755, which makes it certain that the name was known in Philadelphia before that time. The following statement is by Robert McMeen, of Mifflintown, and is the most reasonable of the traditions:

"As early as the year 1749 the first white men who visited the east end of what is now Juniata County came up the north bank of the Juniata River, or possibly by canoe on the water of that stream. They had doubtless heard of the friendly Indians of the Cedar Springs, and of their being the principal source of the D. 0. Run. They, therefore, kept the course of the river till they came to the mouth of D. 0. Run. They took the course of this stream and came easily to the Cedar Springs. From this point they explored the surrounding country, and passing the ridge about half a mile north from Cedar Springs, came upon the creek.

"This party returned to Harris' Ferry, &c., without having made any settlements. When the secured exploring party came, composed in part, doubtless, of the first, they, by mistake, left the river at the mouth of Delaware Run, and soon became involved in the labyrinth of steep ridges and deep vales which lie between the river and the beautiful Lost Creek Valley. 'They wearied themselves' to find the creek, but in vain, and returned to the settlements east of the Susquehanna. The failure to find the valley and creek were discussed and it was determined rightly that the second party had left the river too soon, and the next season a third scouting party came up, took the course of the first party, arrived at Cedar Springs, pressed north and eastward and found the Lost Creek. It has bone this name in the earliest land warrants issued, viz., those of February, 1755, and that lovely and fertile valley having a pretty uniform width of two miles, bounded on the west by Shade Mountain, on the south by Cedars Spring Ridge, on the east by the Ridge at McAlisterville, and sweeping westward eight miles to the Juniata River, at Mifflintown, is called Lost Creek Valley."

The reader is referred to the article on "Taxable Industries" in Greenwood and Fermanagh townships for the early mills and other interests of Fayette.

There were four tracts of land, close together, that were taken up, February 3, 1755, by William Giltnockey, William Armstrong, John Irwin (now Washington McAlister's) and David Hope (Mitchell farm, now Benjamin Shellenberger's). The Giltnockey tract is that part of McAlisterville east of the alley between Dr. Weidman's office and Isaac T. McAlister's dwelling. It passed to Hugh Watts, and, later, to Peter Springer, who patented it May 20, 1812. He resided where Judge Jacob Smith now lives, and, about 1840, sold part of the tract to Jacob Suchman. William Armstrong located a tract, most of it on warrant also dated February 3, 1755, an account of which will be found in the sketch of McAlisterville. Samuel Mitchell and Hugh McAlister, Scotchmen, residing south of the Blue Ridge, after the opening of the New Purchase, started out to explore the country, with a view of selecting a site on which to settle. They crossed the Juniata and passed beyond where James Patterson had located, at Mexico, and came into what was known as Lost Creek Valley, and decided to remain there. William Giltnockey, William Armstrong, Edward Armstrong, John Irwin, David Hoge and others had already located lands in this valley. There were two tracts, that lay adjoining each other, that they selected, at that time owned by John Irwin and David Hoge, and which were warranted February 3, 1755. Hugh McAlister purchased the tract of John Irwin, which is shown in the draft of the Hoge or Mitchell tract as lying south of it. The following is the text of the deed as given by David Hoge to Samuel Mitchell:

"Know all men by these presents, that I, David Hoge, of the County of Cumberland, yeoman, for and in consideration of the sum of four pounds, ten shillings, to me in hand paid by Samuel Mitchell, of said county, have granted, bargained and sold my improvement on a claim and right to claim to a certain improvement and tract of land lying on the East branch of Lost Creek, bounded on the east by land named to William Armstrong, on the south by a small ridge, the line between it and John Erwin's land, and to the westward and northward by Barrens. In witness whereof I have set my hand and seal this 22nd day of July, 1756.
"DAVID HOGE.
"Jonathan Hoge, witness present."

The above-described tract is said to have been the first on which any white person settled in the valley.

Samuel Mitchell settled upon his improvement, but was driven off, as were all the settlers, in 1756, and returned to Carlisle or Sherman's Valley. He returned again in 1763, and, after getting settled, was again compelled to leave with his family, and did not return until 1766, from which time he, with others who had determined to settle here, remained. In August, 1766, he took out two warrants, for ninety acres and one hundred and two acres. He was one of the settlers, in May, 1780, who organized to protect the frontiers. He died in 1783, and in 1793 his widow is mentioned as owning the land he had purchased.

Their children were William, Robert, Jean net and Nancy. William married, in 1796, Nancy, a daughter of Major Hugh McAlister. She died in child-birth in December, 1797, and is buried in the Lost Creek Presbyterian Churchyard. The property later passed to David Myers, by whom it was left to his son Samuel and is now owned by Benjamin Shellenberger.

That portion of his land that was taken up in 1766 lies between Benjamin Shellenberger and the town of McAlisterville, and in time passed to Nicholas Myers and to his son David, and finally to John Musser, who now owns it.

The tract of John Irwin, adjoining the Hoge tract, which was sold to Samuel Mitchell in 1756, was soon after sold to Hugh McAlister. He was of Scotch-Irish descent. His father was Hugh McAlister, who emigrated from the north of Ireland to this country in 1730, and married a Miss Harbison. They had three sons - John, Hugh and William. John settled early in 1755 in Sherman's Valley, and Hugh and William both settled in Lost Creek Valley.

Hugh McAlister, Jr., settled upon his land in 1756. He joined the forces of Captain Forbes, and served faithfully until the close of the Indian hostilities which then resulted from the conspiracy of Pontiac. The families then living in Lost Creek were again compelled to flee to Sherman's Valley, Carlisle and other places of safety, where their friends were congregated in greater numbers. At this time several of the men of the settlement were out with the forces of Captain Forbes. These families of McAlister, Mitchell and others buried their pots and kettles, and taking the few things they could carry and tying packages upon their cattle, slowly and painfully made their way to Sherman's Valley and joined their friends.

Hugh McAlister and his brother William were, in 1776, enlisted in Captain John Hamilton's forces, which joined Washington's forces the day after the capture of the Hessians at Trenton. Hugh was successively promoted to he lieutenant, captain and major. At the close of the war he was in command of the forces stationed at Potter's Fort (now Centre County), and commanded an expedition sent to punish the Indians for depredations committed near Great Island (now Lock Haven) at the close of the Revolution, and settled upon his farm and lived peacefully the remainder of his days. He died September 22, 1810, aged seventy-four years, and his wife, Sarah, died July 6, 1802.

The children of Hugh and Sarah McAlister were Robert, Hugh, John, William, Nancy and Polly.

Robert married Elizabeth Thompson and settled in Tuscarora Valley; Hugh, the second son, married Catharine Elliot, March 12, 1795, and lived on the homestead. His wife, Catharine, died July 16, 1811. He established a store in McAlistertown, as it was then called, and, in 1817, moved into the new brick house he then built, and where he lived till his death, July 16, 1843, aged seventy-four.

Their children were John E., Sally N., Jane H., Hugh T., Elizabeth E. and James Sharon. John E. settled on the farm, for several years kept tavern in the stone house and moved to a farm north of McAlisterville, where he died. He has two sons living, ___ Russell, in Philadelphia, and James, in Harrisburg. Sally N. married William Richards, and, in 1840, moved to Illinois. Jane H. married John North, and lived at McAlisterville. He died there and Mrs. North is still living, eighty-four years of age. Of their sons, Calvin B. resides at Selinsgrove; Hugh McA. is an attorney at Columbia, Lancaster County; and Edmund D. is an attorney at Lancaster City.

Elizabeth E. became the wife of Robert C. Moore and settled in Walker township, where she still resides.

Hugh T. married Julia Ann Alexander, and settled in McAlisterville many years as a farmer. He was the first justice of the peace appointed in Juniata County. He is still living and is eighty-one. years of age.

James Sharon, the youngest son of Hugh and Catharine McAlister, died in 1872, aged sixty-three years.

John, the third son of Hugh and Sarah McAlister, married Polly Lyttle, and settled on a farm adjoining the old McAlister and Bole farms. He left two children, - Hugh and Polly; the latter married William Moore and settled over the ridge at Van Wert. Mrs. Dr. Henry Harshbarger is a daughter of Hugh.

William McAlister, known as Judge, married Sarah Thompson, and settled on the original McAlister farm, where he died December 21, 1847, aged seventy-three years. He served in the War of 1812, and was for many years an associate judge of Juniata County. His wife survived him until March, 1862, when she died in her seventy-ninth year. Of their children, Hugh Nelson became prominent as an at torney in Bellefonte; George W. is now on the homestead; General Robert, prominent in the late war, lives in New Jersey; Thompson settled in Ohio for a time, later in Virginia, where he died; Jane, a daughter, married David Banks, whose sons are William and Dr. Lucian Banks; Elizabeth married David Stewart (they settled in the neighborhood, died there, and are buried in the Lost Creek Presbyterian burial-ground).

Nancy, a daughter of Hugh and Sarah McAlister, married William Mitchell, the son of Samuel Mitchell, who settled on an adjoining farm at the same time her father located on the John Erwin tract. She died in December, 1797, in child-birth, and left a daughter, who reached maturity, married and moved West, and the old Mitchell farm passed to David Myers.

Mary, the youngest daughter of Hugh and Sarah McAlister, married John Allen, who settled in Northumberland County (now Columbia County), where their descendants now are.

William McAlister, a younger brother of Major Hugh, came to this section of country in 1766, with his brother and others, on their return to their farms after the Indian troubles had ceased. He settled on a tract at the head of the Cocolamus, which was taken up by John Gallagher, June 4, 1762. William McAlister purchased, in 1766, and in the same year obtained an order of survey for, a tract called "Addition." In 1812 he obtained a warrant for seventy-three acres south and west. He also purchased other tracts of land in the neighborhood. On the Gallagher tract he settled, and, June 30, 1772, married Sarah Thompson. He joined Captain John Hamilton's company during the Revolution. Before leaving home he made his will, dated December 2, 1776, leaving his estate to his wife, Sarah, and only son, Hugh, then three years old. He went to the army and returned in safety. He cut his name out of the will he bad written with his own hand. It is now in the possession of John B. McAlister, his grandson. He was one of the party who gathered May 21, 1780, to organize to protect the frontier. In 1789 he built at the place now known as Brown's Mills a grist-mill, saw-mill and distillery, and in 1790 was assessed on one hundred and fifty acres of land, the mills, distillery and a slave. He lived at the farm until his death, July 7, 1819, aged seventy-four years; his wife, Sarah, having died a few years previous. The gristmill was burned in later years, and rebuilt by. John McAlister. It was about one mile below the Mansion House, and later was sold by the McAlisters to the Stitzer Brothers, who sold the property to Peter Brown, who now owns it and also keeps a store at the place.

William McAlister built a fulling-mill on the main road, at what is now Cocolamus, in 1814, which was completed, however, by his son William, who fitted it up for fulling and put in carding-machines. Robert McCulley and John Sudrich were fullers at the mill in its early days. The mill was torn down in 1848 and a tannery built, which was run by John McAlister until 1862. It is now owned by John Schell. The children of William and Sarah McAlister were Hugh, 1773, died young; William, 1780; John, 1782; Isaac, 1784; Mary, 1786; and Robert, 1788. William married Polly McCulley. He was a surveyor, and settled on the north part of the farm. William H. and John B. McAlister of McAlisterville, are his sons. John married Jane Thompson and settled on the west part of the tract. He was for many years a justice of the peace, and an elder of Lost Creek Presbyterian Church. J. Hutchinson McAlister, of Mifliintown, is his son. He lived several years on the home-farm. It is now owned by John Shelley. A daughter Sarah, married John Stitzer, and settled for several years in Snyder County, where he, with his brother, purchased the McAlister mill property; and resided there until sold to Peter Brown.

Isaac McAlister married Eleanor Wilson, and moved to Ohio. Mary, a daughter of William McAlister, the elder, married Thomas Bell and settled in Pittsburgh, where their descendants are numerous. Robert., the youngest, married Mary Crawford and settled on the old William McAlister tract and died there. His son, J. Allen McAlister, now owns it. Isaac, another son, is a merchant in McAlisterville.

The greater part of the Giltnockey tract lay east of McAlistertown. Part of it was bought by Hugh Watt in 1779. After his death it was bought of his heirs, Jean and Hugh, by Peter Springer, who settled where Jacob Smith now lives. It was divided in 1813. Part was laid out into village lots in McAlistertown; the rest was sold, part to Jacob Suchman. Peter Springer left three daughters, - Nancy (Mrs. David Landis), Catharine (Mrs. Samuel Shirk), Elizabeth (Mrs. Andrew Zehner or Seiner).

Peter Springer, in 1829, owned a tract which was granted, August 12, 1766, to John Quigley, and later sold to Nicholas Myers. This tract was sold by Springer to Joseph Sellers, February 10, 1829, who built thereon a stone mill, and sold it to George Rothrock, October 23, 1834. It now belongs to Samuel Gayman. Peter Springer owned other lands adjoining Dr. Thomas Whiteside's land, and in other parts of the township also. A part of the Giltnockey tract was sold by William Giltnockey to Colonel George Armstrong, who, December 24, 1762, conveyed to Alexander Armstrong, who sold to his son James. Alexander Armstrong also owned a tract adjoining east, which was granted on an order of survey September 12, 1766. It was sold in 1774 to James Jamison.

John Shellenberger came to this county from Switzerland and settled near what is now Richfield. He had sons - John, Peter and David. In 1792, John Shellenberger, Jr., was assessed on two hundred acres and Peter on two hundred acres. These sons settled near Richfield, where their descendants still live. David Shellenberger was then a single man. He was born in 1770 and moved with his father to the farm on which Bunkertown is now located, and which John afterwards purchased. John Shellenberger, Sr., was a clock-maker, and had learned the trade in Switzerland. He worked at the trade here, and a clock of his manufacture, with his name across the dial, is in the possession of Enoch Shellenberger, a great-grandson. He lived several years after 1800. David built the stone house now owned by George Martin. David died in 1862, ninety-eight years of age. He left several children, of whom were John, David, Anna, Isaac, Christian and Jacob. Of these Christian is the only one living. David, the father, built a tannery about 1810, which was conducted by himself and son John for many years and abandoned about eight years ago, Noah Smith being the last to run it. Of the daughters of John Shellenberger, Sr., Catharine became the wife of Peter Evey and settled in this township, where he had warranted a tract of land ; Maria married Christian Grabel, son of John Grabel, who laid out the town of Richfield in 1818.

The names of Hugh, James, William and Samuel Sharon appear in Fermanagh very early. Of these, Samuel only settled in what is now Fayette township. He was not a brother of the others, and may have been a cousin. He first appears upon the assessment roll in 1770 as a single farmer, and, in 1771 is assessed on one hundred acres of land, and in 1773 on fifty acres, a horse and cow. He had seven children, who were born between 1773 and 1792, - Sarah, James, Ann, Sarah, Samuel, Robert and William. James was born in 1775, became a Presbyterian minister, who settled in Dauphin County. Ann, born in February, 1778, became the wife of Joseph Sellers and settled at the old Hamilton mill, now the property of Robert Humphrey, in Delaware township. Sarah, the second of the name, the first dying when an infant, was born in July, 1782, and married William Shedden. Samuel, born February 23, 1785, married Sarah Davis, a daughter of Joshua Davis, of Slim Valley. Robert, born in 1789, died young. William, the youngest son, was born March 2, 1792. He married Susan Davis, sister of Sarah Davis, the wife of Samuel.

Samuel Sharon was settled in the vicinity soon after his marriage. He was active with the frontiersmen in 1780. He was executor of the will of Samuel Mitchell, who died in 1783. The tract of land on which he lived the later years of his life was warranted by him July 9, 1787, and was patented August 22, 1809. He was a justice of the peace many years and died about 1815. The property was held in common by Samuel and William as the homestead until 1843, when it was divided and Samuel retained the mansion-house and north part and William the south part. The mansion farm now belongs to Henry Smith. He died about 1862, and his sons were in the army and served through the war, after which they sold the farm and moved to Davis County, Iowa. A daughter resides in Sunbury, and one in Bloomsburg, in this State. William built upon and settled upon the south part of the farm. He was elected to the Legislature in 1830, and served in the years 1831, 1832 and 1833, and again in 1851. He died in 1858. Mrs. William Sharon resides in McAlisterville,with her son, William W. Sharon. Her daughter, Mrs. Mary Adams, resides with them. The farm is now in possession of Abraham Sieber.

James Jamison, a Scotchman, settled on the faun lately owned by Henry Sieber, and now by Jacob Witmer. This tract was adjoining William Giltnockey. It was warranted by Jamison May 26, 1773. The next year he purchased two hundred and sixty-four acres of land adjoining, which was granted on an order of survey to Alexander Armstrong, September 12, 1766. He died a few years after his settlement here, devising his property to his only son, John, by will, dated in March, 1776.

The town of McAlisterville, with its present limits, is situated on a site originally taken up by the authority of two warrants. The warrant on the east was taken out by William Giltnockey the 3d day of February, 1755, and was for a large tract of land which later passed to Hugh Watts, who sold to Peter Springer, who patented it May 20, 1812. He lived on the place now occupied by Judge Jacob Smith. The old school-house, built in 1818, was on the tract now owned by Judge Samuel Watts.

In later years, when McAlisterville began to thrive, lots were sold by Peter Springer on his land, and the town grew to the east along the road. This tract of land was warranted February 3, 1755, which was the first day on which warrants were issued from the Land-Office for "the new purchase."

The tract of land on which McAlisterville was originally laid out was warranted by William Armstrong, of Delaware, February 3, 1775, the same date as the adjoining tract of Giltnockey's. He located other lands in what is now Mifflin County, where he resided. Edward Armstrong warranted a tract of land southeast of it September 8th the same year. Alexander Armstrong also took up a tract of land on application No. 1201, September 12, 1766, east of William Giltnockey and James Diven. Peter Springer also bought this property. William Armstrong retained the tract he warranted until January 8, 1779, when lie sold it for two hundred and forty pounds to Joseph Bogle, of York County, who, on the 19th of February, the same year, conveyed it to William Stewart, who at once moved upon the place, as his name is found in May, 1780, among the list of those who organized for the defense of the frontier. He built a log house on the place, and resided there in 1791. The reader is referred to the erection of Greenwood township and the enlargement of its boundaries, in 1791-92, for mention of William Stewart's house. It will be noticed that in the petition William Stewart's house was mentioned as being on the east side of the line, and in Greenwood township. But Hugh McAlister, who purchased the property May 21, 1790, applied to the court, asking that William Stewart's house may be and remain in Fermanagh township. This was granted, and the line ran east of the Armstrong land and through the lot on which the old Jacob Hamerly house now stands, leaving the most of the Armstrong land in Fermanagh township. Hugh McAlister came into possession of the land in the year 1792. The tract was surveyed to him as one hundred and sixty-six acres, March 31, 1792. The tract was then bounded on the west by lands of Widow Mitchell, on north by Hugh McElroy, east by Hugh Watts (later Peter Springer) and on the south by William Shaw. Hugh McAlister conveyed it to his son Hugh, March 23, 1804, who received a patent for it May 23, 1804.

The old log house that many years ago was torn down, and which stood on the road leading from the hotel corner toward the church, and on the farm now owned by Judge Watts, is supposed to have been the old Stewart house. In 1807 Nicholas Myers built a house on the lot now owned by Squire William Dunn. This lot was sold to Henry Lauver, September 14, 1813, and in 1819 was conveyed to John Showers. It passed through several hands, and in 1840 came into possession of William Dunn.

Hugh McAlister, in 1810, employed William McAlister to survey and lay out a town, which was done. Seven lots, each containing half an acre, were laid out, three on the south side of the road and four on the north side. On the 27th day of December, 1810, Hugh McAlister and his wife, Catharine, sold to John Lauver, a blacksmith, lots Nos. 1 and 2, on the north side of "McAlisterstown," in consideration of sixty dollars, with the "free privilege of using water out of the spring forever, but no power of hindering any other person the same privilege," John Lauver owned a log dwelling-house east of the new town some distance, which he tore down and moved to the lots and erected thereon. These lots later came to Henry Lauver, and the house was torn down in 1856, and the store now owned by Isaac T. McAlister was erected on the site. The spring mentioned is on a small lot adjoining, now owned by Hugh McAlister and just east of Dr. A. J. Fisher's residence. In the next year, 1811, Hugh McAlister erected, on the lot on the south side directly opposite No. 1, a stone house, which is still standing, and in which Thomas Gallagher, of Licking Creek, and James Knox, of Mifflin, opened a store, which they kept until 1815, when they sold to Hugh McAlister, who kept there until his brick house was finished, in 1817, when he moved the store to the room in the east side and kept till his death, in 1844. He remained several years and was succeeded by William McCamman. He moved up town, in a small log house built by Nicholas Myers, now occupied by William Dunn. After a few years he moved to Liverpool. In 1816, Hugh McAlister began the erection of the brick hotel now standing, and finished it in the next year, where he lived until his death, in 1843. The brick house came to John North, a son-in-law, April 1, 1846, who opened it as a store and kept it for ten years, and in 1856 changed it to a hotel. It was sold in 1875 to William W. Sharon, who now keeps it. Herman Caveny, a school-teacher and stone-cutter, lived in the stone house several years and also had his marble-shop there. It was kept as a tavern by Dr. Thomas Rowland, who remained about two years and returned to Chester. John E. McAlister was the landlord from about 1825 to 1842. It was later kept by Edward Margretz. ____ Barth, Jacob Auman and last, in 1877, by Cyrns Seiber.

The growth of the town caused Peter Springer, about 1813, to lay out lots on the east of the new town on the Giltnockey tract, which were soon after sold. In 1814 a petition for a road was made from McAlistertown to the county line on Shade Mountain, near Romick's Gap. Viewers were appointed and report made, but not confirmed. It was afterwards, however, laid out and opened.

A postoffice was established at the place about 1815, and a mail-route opened from Fannetsburg, Franklin County, to Selinsgrove, and mail first carried in saddle-bags. Hugh McAlister, then keeping store, was postmaster. In 1820 a petition was sent in to the Postmaster-General, by Captain William Turner, to have the name of the post-office changed, and Michael Lauver was appointed postmaster, and the name of the post-office was changed to Calhounville about 1821, which it retained for about four years and was changed to its former name. Hugh McAlister was reapppointed and held the position until his death, in 1843. He was succeeded by J. B. Wilson, Calvin B. North, John North, James Davis, Dallas North, S. B. Caveny, John Muthersbough and William W. Sharon, the present incumbent, who has held the position since April, 1873.

Soon after the town was started Hugh McAlister built a tannery on the Main Street, which was conducted by John North, a tanner, and who, in 1822, married Jane, a daughter of Hugh McAlister. In 1825 Hugh T. McAlister came into possession and continued until 1845, when it was sold to Henry Bohn, who continued several years and sold to Peter Witmer, by whom, in later years, it was abandoned.

A school was taught in the settlement in 1812-14 by Stephen George, who was an early teacher throughout the county. The first school-house was built in 1818, and was a little east of the village. It is still standing on the original site and is now owned by Samuel Watts. Other teachers who taught there were Stephen George, William Pelaw, ____ McCormick, Matthew McKinstry, James Murray, Sarah Abrams, Samuel Mathers, Samuel B. Wilson (1828), William P. Huntington (1830), William J. Jones, James M. Sellers, William Quick, George Lewis and William Kinsloe.

The school-house was abandoned in 1855 and the present house was built by Jacob Bechtel, and is now, with the exception of the orphan school, the only school of McAlisterville. William W. Sharon was the first teacher. The German school-house was built about 1827 and used until 1855. Christopher Clark, Benjamin Landis, George Keller and William Dunn were the teachers in the German school-house. Hugh McAlister says that in his remembrance there were twelve distilleries between the mouth of Lost Creek and Richfield, which were all running in the winter. It was the only market for corn and rye, and each farmer took a barrel of whiskey in part pay. The distilleries were owned by Lewis Horning, near the month of Lost Creek; James Bryson, on the old Samuel Bryson farm at Jericho, of which David Kauffman was the distiller; James Alricks, at the Oakland Mills; William, Robert and James Turner, west of McAlisterville; John Jameson; David Shellenberger; William McAlister, Robert McAlister; William Sellers, at Evandale; John Grabel, at Richfield.

Of merchants who have been in business in McAlisterville since 1835 are the following: Hugh Wilson, from 1835 to 1856. The business was continued by his sons - J. B. Wilson & Co. - for several years, and sold to Feghtly & Strayer.

In 1857 David Myers erected the store building on the corner where Isaac McAlister now has a store. It was the site of the first building in the town. The firm of D. Myers & Co. was composed of David Myers, Reuben Caveny and James M. Sellers. The firm had several changes, and, in 1862, the store was sold to Isaac McAlister, who now keeps it.

In 1876 S. S. Beaver built the store building, and opened a store, now conducted by Joseph Page, who purchased in 1882.

S. S. Beaver, after the sale of his store, in 1882, opened a drug-store, which, in 1884, was purchased by Murray & Smiley.

EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH. - About 1830, the Rev. Elsenmoyer, a German minister, came to this neighborhood and began preaching in the German language to the people of the Lutheran and German Reformed denominations. Meetings were held in the old school-house in the upper end of the village. A Lutheran congregation was soon formed, with John Seighman and Daniel Showers as trustees.

In the summer of 1834 a lot was purchased of Hugh McAlister, in McAlisterville, and in the season of 1835 a frame church was erected. The Rev. S. R. Boyer, who took the charge of Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church, in Lewistown,March 1, 1835, assumed charge also of this congregation and served until he resigned, March 15, 1846. He was succeeded by the Rev. Jacob Martin, 1846-48 ; Rev. Levi F. Williams, 1848-58; Rev. Philip Willard, 1858-61. From the time the Rev. S. R. Boyer took charge of the church, in 1835, until 1861 the congregation was in a charge with Mifflintown, Thompsontown and Centre. At this time, 1861, Mifffintown became an independent charge, and the congregation remained one with Thompsontown and Centre. The Rev. DI. L. Shindell became pastor and remained until 1865. The congregation was without a pastor one year, and, in 1867, the Rev. A. Kopenhover assumed the pastoral relation, and remained fifteen years in the service. In the fall of 1883 the Rev. William Wieand was called, and accepted. He served until the summer of 1885, and resigned.

During the pastorate of the Rev. A. Kopenhover, and mainly through his influence and zeal, the present brick church was built, in 1876, on the site of the old church, at au outlay of four thousand dollars, much work and material having been contributed by the members.

I. O. O. F. - McAlisterville Lodge, No. 716, was chartered May 20, 1870, with the following list of officers: D. B. McWilliams, N. G.; G. Shivery, V. G.; W. W. Sharon, Secretary; S. M. Shelley, Assistant Secretary; J. W. Muthersbough, Treasurer. Meetings were held in the second story of McAlister's store until about 1875, when the Odd-Fellows' Hall was fitted and is still used. The lodge has a membership of fourteen.

THE SOLDIERS' ORPHAN SCHOOL. -This institution was originated as an academy in 1855, the first trustees of which were H. T. McAlister, Wm. McMeen, Abraham Seiber, Montgomery Jameson, R. W. Jameson, Sam]. Watt and David Myers. A subscription list was obtained, and in the summer of 1855 the three-story brick building, forty-eight. by fifty-four feet., now standing on the west side of the street, was erected at a cost of about three thousand dollars. The Rev. Philander Camp, a Presbyterian minister from Bradford County, was elected principal. He served two years and was succeeded by Mr. Diven, who taught two terms. In 1858 the stockholders sold the property to Professor George F. McFarland, then principal of the Freeburg Academy, who enlarged the accommodations and conducted the academy until 1862. Having then a good normal class composed largely of teachers, he enlisted them in the service of the United States, and took the company to Harrisburg, where it was assigned to the One Hundred and Fifty-first Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, of which he became lieutenant-colonel, and one of the teachers, W. L. Owens, captain of the company.

Returning after the battle of Gettysburg, in 1863, in which he was badly wounded, ColonelMcFarland re-opened the academy, and in the following autumn converted it into a soldiers' orphans' school. From this time forward it received soldiers' orphans, the number reaching sixty-one by April 1, 1865, and one hundred and forty-one the following December. At the first vacation July 27, 1865, the children were accompanied by Dr. Burrowes, State superintendent of schools, to Mifflintown, where the first concert was held in the court-house. The large audience was deeply interested in the peformance, the explanation of the system by Dr. Burrows and the patriotic speeches that followed. It was one of the three schools that visited Harrisburg, March 16, 1866, and influenced the Legislature to abandon the pauper bill and continue appropriations for the support of the schools.

The school also participated in the ceremonies incident to the reception of the battle-flags, at Philadelphia, July 4, 1866. Twenty-two acres of land bought were adjoining the original purchase. The corner-stone of a new building was laid, with interesting ceremonies, July 23, 1866. The Hon. S. P. Bates, LL.D., delivered the address. The building is of brick, thirty-nine by sixty-seven feet, and four stories in height.

On the 1st day of January, 1876, the control of the school passed into the hands of Mr. Jacob Smith, of McAlisterville, who had for many years been steward of the institution. He remained in charge of the institution until September, 1880, when he was succeeded by Colonel George F. McFarland, who, in June 13, 1883, leased the property to George W. Wright, of Mercer County. The school is now under the charge of Professor J. M. Sherwood, who was in charge of the Mercer soldiers' orphans' schools for five years previous to taking charge of this in September, 1884. The roll of the institution shows that one thousand one Hundred and eighty-five children have enjoyed its advantages as a home and a school. Twenty-eight deaths have occurred, and nine hundred and seventy children have been discharged, leaving at present in the institution one hundred and seveny-seven children.

Cocolamus is a settlement at the forks of the heads of the stream. The land was taken up by John Gallagher in 1762, and soon after purchased by William McAlister, who obtained a patent in 1790. It. was the intention of Mr. McAlister to lay out a town at the place, but it was not done. A fulling-mill was built in 1814, which was torn down in 1848 and the tannery erected on its site. A store was established at the place in 1862, and kept by William Harrison McAlister until 1881, when it was purchased by Edward Kelly, who now keeps it.

A hotel was kept there several years by Abram Landis and by Lewis Amy. A postoffice was established in 1865, and Abraham Haldeman was postmaster from 1865 to 1872. He was succeeded by W. H. McAlister from 1872 to 1881, and since that time the office has been held by Edward Kelly. The tannery is now owned by John Schell. A frame church was built near the place in 1884 by the United Brethren.

The place was named by Dr. Thomas Whiteside when lie built the present stone mill, in 1830. It had long been a mill-seat, and the old mills stood above the present mill. The first store was established in 1830 by David McClure, who was about the same time appointed postmaster. He was succeeded by John Heckman in both the store and postoffice. Lucian Wilson, the present postmaster, succeeded in the store and post-office in April, 1844, and has continued to the present time. He, with his brothers, purchased the mill property in 1856.

The above text was transcribed and/or "OCR"ed, edited and hypertext marked-up by Cole M. Van Ormer