CONCORD, a post village, in Fannet township, upon the Tuscarora creek, and in the head of the Valley, consits of several dwellings.

UPPER STRASBURG, a post town, in Letterkenny township, in a fork of Herren's branch of Conodoguinette creek, ten miles north west of Chambersburg, thirteen of Shippensburg; fifty miles west of Harrisburg, consists of thirty dwellings, three stores, two taverns, two chur ches, one held in common by the Lutherans and German Reformed, in which the Presbyterian congregation, enjoys the privilege to worship, and one held by the United Brethren, three tanneries, and two schools, male and female. One grist mill.

The town was laid out by Mr. Deweld Kiefer, about the year 1791— Population 230.

FANNETSBURG, a post village, in Metal township, on the road from Upper Strasburg to Bedford, twelve miles in a direct line north west from Chambersburg, in a secluded, fertile valley, called Path Valley, two or three miles wide, bounded on the east by the North Mountain, and west by the Blue Mountain. The town consists of about thirty dwellings, stores, taverns, &.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

FIRST SETTLERS.

First settlers-Prairie-Schlatter's allusion thereto-Difficulties and sufferings of first settlers-Presbyterians &c. &c-Character of the Nugents and others-Education-Provision for the poor.

The first white settlers were Scotch, and of the Scotch-Irish race. Many of their descendants still remain; but the German population, which has more recently come in, is fast gaining in numbers over the descendants of the pioneers.

It is a tradition well supported, that a great part of the best lands in the Conococheague valley were, at the first settlement of the country, what is now called in the western states prairie. The land was without timber, covered with a rich, luxuriant grass, with some scattered trees, hazel-bushes, wild plumbs, and crab-apples. It was then called generally the barrens. The timber was to be found on or near the watercourses, and on the slate soil. This accounts for the preference given by the early settlers to the slate lands, before the limestone lands were surveyed or located. The slate had the attractions of wood, watercourses, and water-meadows, and was free of rock at the surface. Be fore the introduction of clover, artificial grasses, and the improved system of agriculture, the hilly limestone land had its soil washed off, was disfigured with great gullies, and was sold as unprofitable, for a trifle, by the proprietors, who sought other lands in Western Pennsyl

vania. It is now under German' cultivation, the most beautiful and fertile section of the county.

The Revd. Michael Schlatter, a German Reformed minister, passed through here in 1748. In his Tage Buch May 9, he alludes to the prairie covered with fine grass.

"Woselbst ich den 8ten zu Friederichton, eineneu angelegte stadt, in dem Schulhause eine Vorbereitungs-Predigt that, und denselbigen Tag meinen Weg in Gesellschaft eines Aeltesten dieser Gemeine, der sich freywillig anerbote mich durch Virginien zu begleiten, noch 34 Meilen weiter fortzetzte bis an Canogogee, da wir ueber das so genannte Blau Gebirge zogen, so dass wir nicht vor dem 9tn des Morgens um 2 uhr zu Canogogee in dem Hause eines ehrlichen Schweizers* eine angenehme Ruhe genossen mit Danksagung. Ich predigte alldorten noch den selben Tag. Diese Gemeine, gelegen gegen Mitternacht von Marienland, und also noch unter Pennsylvanien gehoerend, wurde von dem Prediger Monaccacy koennen bedient werden.

"Hier um diese Gegend sind sehr frucht bare Bau-und-Weidfelder, die beinahe ohne Duenge Tuerkisch Korn hervorbringen, worrunter Halmen sind von zehn und mehr Schuhen lang, und ein ueberaus shoenes Grass. Daherum wohnen noch viele Indianern, oder alte Einheimische des Landes, die sehr gutartig und dienstreich, und den Christen nicht ungeneigt sind, wenn sie nur durch starkes Getraenke nicht trunken gemacht wurden."

The first inhabitants were, as already remarked, from Ireland, Scotland, and a few from Germany and Switzerland. Benjamin Chambers, the first settler, induced others, his countrymen, to immigrate to the Conococheague settlement. Soon afterwards, some Germans & Swiss descendants, principally from the lower part of Lancaster county, found their way into this settlement: since then they constitute a great proportion of the present population of this county. Many of the Germans speak the language of their fathers; but of late years the English has the preference with many whose grand-parents immigrated from Germany.

The first settlers of this county, experienced, in common with the frontier settlers, the difficulties and privations in new settlements-to these difficulties and privations, were superadded the horrors of war in its worst form. For eight or nine years, after the defeat of Braddock, in July 1755, the whole frontier of this county was exposed to

Eines ehrlichen Schweitzers. The Revd. Schlatter does not name the "honest Swiss." It may have been Jacob Suevely, a Swiss Mennonite, who had emigrated from Switzerland, and settled at first at Conestogo, (now Lancaster county); but moved to the Conococheague settlement about the year 1737 or 1738. He had been tax collector for the south part of Hopewell township in 1739. The date of his warrant for land, bounded by land of King and Brown, is 1743. When Mr. Snevely settled here he was surrounded by Indians. He was, as I have been informed, the grandfather of Joseph Snively, Esq.; and the progenitor of all those, numerous as they are, who bear the name Snively in Franklin county. During the hostile incursions of the Indians into this region of country, Mr. Snevely retreated, for security, to Lancaster. The original homestead of Jacob Snevely is now occupied by An. drew Snively, Esq., in Antrim township.

the incursions of Indian war parties, who, as is their custom, were marauding the country, and would often surprise the inhabitants, and many of whom were massacred in the most cruel manner, and others abducted, and inhumanly treated by the savages. So artful were these enemies, that notwithstanding the vigilance of the settlers, and the numerous stocades and forts they had erected to protect themselves, many of them fell victims, by day as well as by night, to these barbarians, whose desire for blood and revenge knew no bounds.

The character of these hardy settlers is graphically sketched, by the hand of another.-Patriotism was a predominant trait among the early Presbyterians of Conococheague, as well as the whole Kittatinny valley. They were conspicuous among the provincial troops in the old French war; and throughout all the Indian wars, they sustained nearly the whole burden of defending the frontier.

When a new purchase was made (sometime before), they were the first to make an opening in the wilderness beyond the mountains; and when the alarm of the American Revolution echoed along the rocky walls of the Blue Mountain, it awakened a congenial thrill of blood of that race which years before, in Ireland and Scotland, had resisted the arbitrary powers of England.

Though the great body of them was patriotic, moral, industrious, and by no means diffident in any thing that should characterize a free and independent people, there were still some whose principles were rotten and whom neither reason could sway nor law restrain, as appears from the subjoined extract.

During the French war of 1755, the war of the Revolution, and the intermediate Indian war, Chambersburg was a small frontier village, almost the outpost of civilization. A considerable trade was carried on with the more remote settlements on the Pittsburg road, by means of pack-horses. In time of peace some traffic was carried on with the Indians. The vicinity of an Indian frontier is not the purest school of morals. The restraints of law and religion become relaxed. The laws of the provincial legislation were ill suited to the sudden and analogous emergencies of frontier life, and the people were very apt to make a law unto themselves, and institute a code of morals that would not be tolerated in better organized communities. The rigid discipline of the Scotch Presbyterians was introduced at a very early period into the Conococheague settlements, but it surpassed its powers to curb the wild and lawless spirit of the Indian traders and frontier men. As a consequence of this state of things, the Conococheague towns were infested during the revolution with a band of desperate marauders and counterfeiters, who bid defiance to all laws. They had an organized line from Bucks county through Chester and the Cumberland valley, into Virginia. The Doanes of Bucks county, Fritz of Chester county, and the men of Conococheague, (whose names might be mentioned if it were thought necessary,) together with other confederates in Virginia and Carolina, drove a brisk trade during the revolution by stealing horses and cattle, and disposing of them to the British. When the British retired, they carried on an extensive trade among themselves, by stealing horses at the south; passing them along the line to the north where they could not be recognized, and exchanging them for others stolen at the north; thus at that early day anticipating the golden dreams of our modern financiers, by equalizing the ezchanges.

The long narrow valleys and secluded coves behind the Blue Mountain afforded a convenient route, and secure hiding places. These were no shabby villains: they wore the finest dresses, sported the best horses, and could display more guineas and jewelry than any others in the settlement; and though the source of their sudden wealth was suspected, no one dared to prove it against them. When not engaged in the more important department of the trade, they resorted to counterfeiting continental money, and sauntering around the towns, where they would amuse themselves by putting tricks upon travellers. Wo betide the unlucky Doctor Syntax who in those days hitched his horse in the diamond after night. If fortunate enough to find him at all, he would have great difficulty in recognizing him, with his mane, tail, and ears cropped, and possibly a little paint added by way of ornament. And equally unfortunate was any man who resisted or threatened to bring them to justice. His barn or his crops would be destroyed by fire. They thus for a long time defied public sentiment by threats, or eluded justice by concealment. At last two of them near Chambersburg, meeting a man on the highway with a bottle which they presumed to be whiskey, demanded it of him; he gave it up without remark, and on tasting they found it to be 'yeast! They broke it over his head in a rage, and otherwise abused him. This led to their arrest, and the detection of other crimes; and they were hung at Carlisle. On being called out to execution, they refused to come; but a smoke of brimstone made in the cell brought them to speedy submission.

The state of education is improving. The common school system has been adopted in every district except one township, Warren. The schools are in operation in 13 districts, in which 112 schools are open about five months and a half in the year, employing 96 male, and 17 female teachers, at an average salary of $17,72, of the latter $11,21 per month; in these schools 3,282 male, and 2,711 females are taught, 70 of whom are learning German. A district tax has been raised of $11,781 74-the State appropriation was $8,136 00-cost of instruction $10,490 74; fuel and contingencies $904 70, for the year 1844.

Besides the public schools, other literary institutions, already noticed, exert a salutary influence upon the several classes of society. The religious denominations are Presbyterian, Associate Reformed, German Reformed, Lutheran, Methodist, United Brethren in Christ, German Baptist, Mennonites, and Church of God.

Poorhouse.-Ample provision is made for the support of the poor. The poor house near Chambersburg, contains on an average about 100 paupers. There is a farm connected with it of 188 acres, and is very productive.

HISTORY OF BEDFORD COUNTY.

CHAPTER XXXV.

BEDFORD COUNTY.

Bedford county erected-Extracts from Court Records, &c.-Limits of Bedford reduced-Surface of the county diversified-Description of, &c.-Geology of the county-General statistics of 1840-Synopsis of census of 1840-Streams described-Public improvements.

BEDFORD County, originally a part of Cumberland county, was taken from it by an act of the Legislature, passed March 9, 1771; the boun dary and limits of which were thus defined by said act, "That all and singular the lands lying and being within the boundaries following: that is to say, beginning where the province line crosses the Tuscarora mountain, and running along the summit of that mountain to the Gap near the head of Path Valley; thence with a north line to the Juniata; thence with the Juniata to the mouth of Shaver's creek; thence northeast to the line of Berks county; thence along the Berks county line northwestward to the west boundary of the province; thence southward, according to the several courses of the western boundary of the province, to the southwest corner of the province to the place of beginning.

By the sixth section of the same act it was ordained, "That it shall and may be lawful to and for Arthur St. Clair, Bernard Dougherty, James Coulter, William Proctor and George Woods, Gent. or any of them, to purchase and take assurances to them and their heirs of a piece of land, situate in some convenient place in the said town (Bedford) in trust, and for the use of the inhabitants of the said county, and thereon to erect a court house and prison."

Robert McCrea, William Miller and Robert Moore, were appointed to run, mark out and distinguish the boundary lines between Cumberland and Bedford counties.

The first Court of General Quarter Session of this county was held at Bedford the 16th of April, 1771, before William Proctor, Robert Cluggage, Robert Hanna, George Wilson, William Lochery & William McConnell, Esqrs. Justice of our Lord the King, to hear and determine divers felonies and misdemeanors committed in the said county.

The Grand Jury consisted of the following gentlemen

James Anderson, foreman: Charles Cesna, James McCashlin, Thomas Kenton, Allen Rose, George Millekin, John Moore, Robert Culbertson, George Funk, John Huff, Rinard Wolfe, Vallentine Shadacer,