Meyersdale, PA
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History of Meyersdale, 1906 By William Welfley The location of the town is pleasant and picturesque. It also possesses great commercial advantages, being in the midst of a good agricultural region, while close at hand are abundant resources as yet but slightly developed, such as timber, coal, ore and limestone. Meyersdale has present prosperity and encouraging prospects for the future. The name of the town has undergone various modifications. While the place was only a straggling and unimportant country village, it was known as Meyers' Mills. After the railroad was built, and evidence of prosperity began to appear, a more ambitious spirit seized the citizens, and the town became Dale City. This title was worn but a short time before it was shaken off, and the present appropriate name assumed in its stead.
About the same time Peter Meyers laid out about 60 acres of his land in town lots. This addition embraced Meyers Avenue, Second Avenue, Large Street and Keystone Street and part of Centre Street. In 1870 that portion of the town lying southwest of Flaugherty Creek was laid out at the instance of Daniel, U.M. and William Beachley; J. B. Gaither, surveyor. A portion of the town is built quite irregularly, owing to the fact that a number of houses were erected before a general survey was made. In 1872 the Olinger and Beachley plats were incorporated as a borough under the name of Dale City. In 1874. the borough limits were extended so as to include the Meyers plat, and the entire town was incorporated as Meyersdale. The first borough officers were as follows: Franklin Enos, burgess; Gillian H. Walter, assistant burgess; U. M. Beachley, G. H. Walter, George Weber, James S. Black, Frederick Naugle, councilmen; Jacob J. Holtzhue, high constable; David Koontz, street commissioner; W. C. Hicks, secretary. The first house within the limits of the town was erected by Andrew Barntrager about 1780. The property is now owned by the Meyers heirs. The first house after the town was laid out was built on the spot where Hartley Brothers' store now stands, by Godfrey Bittner, in 1845.
The first schoolhouse in the town, also the first in Summit Township, was a log building which stood near the center of the town. It was built as early as 1812. A second log building was erected about 1822. In 1861 the present brick schoolhouse was built at a cost of $2,000. It was begun by private enterprise, and finished under the direction of the school board. The school is well graded and in excellent condition. Six teachers are employed. A commodious opera house, 30 x 68 feet in size, was erected in 1883, by William Slicer and Alexander Glotfelty. Banking was established in 1868 by Philson, Black & Co., chiefly through the efforts of Samuel Philson, of Berlin, who is now sole proprietor of the business. The bank is a private institution, and has been managed since 1882 by S. B. Philson, son of the proprietor. S. D. Livengood and J. M. Olinger began banking business in 1872, and continued until 1875. A national bank was then organized, which continued in existence until 1880. S. D. Livengood then bought out the establishment and established the Farmers' Bank instead. Mr. Livengood is sole proprietor. A pottery was established in 1873 by George J. Black, who is the present proprietor of the business. Mr. Black manufactures all kinds of stoneware, drain tile and sewer pipe. Of drain tile he makes about 20,000 feet per month. Mr. Black is a native of Somerfield, in this county, and was there engaged in his present business until he removed to Meyersdale.
The firm of Hartley & Co., merchants, was established in 1868. The members of the firm are S. C., L. E. and H. P. Hartley. The store occupied by this firm was erected by S. C. Hartley and A.F. John in 1875. A large business in dry goods, clothing, etc., is carried on. The store is in two departments, each 26 x 66 feet in size. The firm of Dill, Watson & Co., manufacturers and dealers in lumber, was formed in the spring of 1880, and consists of M. R. Dill, manager, A. H. and W. H. Dill, Jonathan Boynton and James E. Watson. The mills of this company are located on the Salisbury Branch Railroad in Elk Lick Township. In 1882, 6,188,000 feet were cut. The amount of lumber shipped is about 5 million feet yearly, solely for building purposes. The company gives employment to from 60 to 100 hands.
About the year 1785, Jacob Meyers, a native of Lebanon County, came to the then wild and unsettled region west of the mountains and purchased a tract of land which included the site of Meyersdale. He never settled here, but sent his sons, Christian, Jacob, Henry and John, to look after the interests of his property. All settled on farms in the vicinity of Meyersdale, except Jacob, who located on the land which is now the site of the town. Jacob Meyers, Jr., was born in Lebanon County in 1783, and settled in Somerset County in 1804. About 1807 he erected a fulling-mill, a sawmill, a distillery and a gristmill, which were among the first industries of the kind in this locality. The gristmill was burned about 1827, and rebuilt by Peter Meyers, son of Jacob. It is still standing and in operation, being now owned by the heirs of Peter Meyers. Jacob Meyers lost his life while assisting his son to refit the mill. The two were engaged in bringing a load of lumber to the mill, when they were overtaken by a tremendous storm or cyclone accompanied by a waterspout. Mr. Meyers was thrown from his horse into the river. A few days later his body was discovered some distance below. Jacob Meyers was a militia officer. He married Barbara Yorty, who was born in Lebanon County in 1787. After settling here, she became weary of life in the wilderness and determined to visit her former home. She made two trips from Somerset County to Lebanon County, going and returning on horseback, a feat which few ladies of the present day would care to undertake. Mr. and Mrs. Meyers reared three children: Peter, William and Eliza (Beachley), all now deceased. Peter Meyers, after whom Meyers' Mills and later Meyersdale was called, was the son of Jacob and was born in 1807. He was one of the most active businessmen and respected citizens of this part of the county. He generally had two stores in operation, as well as two sawmills and two gristmills. He also took a prominent part in the establishment of the Pittsburgh & Connellsville railroad, and was a member of its first board of directors, and was largely instrumental in the location of the towns of Hyndman and Confluence. He married Lydia Miller, and was the father of Cyrus, Nelson, J., 0., Dr. W. H., Dennis, Barbara E. and Ida E. Nelson and Dennis were soldiers in the late war. J. O. Meyers was born in Meyersdale and educated at the Somerset Collegiate Institute. He has followed mercantile pursuits chiefly. Since 1879 he has been engaged in the insurance business in Meyersdale. Samuel Foust was born in Berlin, Somerset County. He learned the tanner's trade. He has been engaged in the manufacture and sale of boots and shoes in this town since 1851. C.P. Heffley began the business of a merchant tailor in 1875. In 1879 William Heffley, his brother, entered upon the same occupation in this town and is now doing a thriving business. Mr. Heffley is a native of Berlin. G. D. Lichty was born in Elk Lick Township, and reared on a farm. In 1868 he came to Meyersdale, where he has been engaged in mercantile business, the manufacture of lumber and dealing in agricultural implements. He is at present in the employ of the United States Internal Revenue Service. E. M. Lichty, brother of G. D., resides in Meyersdale and carries on an extensive business in the manufacture and shipment of lumber. H. J. Blough, a native of Conemaugh Township, settled in Meyersdale in 1870. Mr. Blough is a mechanic by trade, but since locating in this place, has been principally engaged in the lumber business. In partnership with John Hocking he owns the shook works at Meyersdale, also a steam sawmill situated three miles northeast of the town. The sawmill has a capacity of about 12,000 feet per day. The partnership with Mr. Hocking was formed in 1882. Mr. Blough enlisted in October, 1862, in Co. K, 18th Penn. Cav. He was taken prisoner at Cedar Creek, and was three months and nine days in Libby and Andersonville prisons. He was mustered out in October, 1865. Entering the service as a private, he was promoted to second lieutenant, then to captain. Johnson Collins was born in Allegheny County, Maryland. He followed the mercantile business at Elkhart mines, Maryland, from 1859 until 1878, when he removed to Meyersdale and was engaged in the hardware business until 1882. For four years prior to his coming he had an interest in the hardware store managed by John F. Shipley. He also had a mercantile establishment in Salisbury for seven years. Mr. Collins retired from business in 1882. He owns the block occupied by Shipley's store. William B. Cook is a native of Bedford County and has been a resident of Meyersdale since 1872. For six years he followed the business of a contractor. He was then elected a justice of the peace and still serves in that capacity. Since April, 1883, he has been engaged in the insurance business. E. Wineland, merchant, was born in Germany, and came to America in 1868, settling in Frostburg, Maryland. He followed the mercantile business in that place until his removal to Meyersdale in 1814. He purchased his present store of Emanuel Lichty in 1876. Mr. Wineland carries a large stock, and is conducting a prosperous business. W. J. Jones, proprietor of the well-known and popular Jones House, in Meyersdale, is a native of Westmoreland County, and came to Somerset County in 1870. After engaging in the grocery and hotel business in Ursina for three years, he came to Meyersdale and established himself in his present business. C. G. Masters was born in Everett, Bedford County. He is a graduate of the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy. For about ten years he followed the drug business in Philadelphia and Everett. In 1882 he engaged in the furniture business in Meyersdale as a member of the firm of Morrill & Masters. This firm occupies a store 132 feet deep, and keeps the largest stock of furniture in the county.
Levi J. Yoder was born in this county. He learned blacksmithing with his father, and worked at his trade for 16 years. In 1882 he entered the hardware store of G. W. Gassman as clerk, and is still engaged in that pursuit. Mr. Yoder served in the late war in Co. F, 61st Regt. Penn. Vols., from September, 1864, to June, 1865. C. B. Cook is a native of Southampton Township, and was educated in the schools of Somerset County. In 1873 he entered Mount Union College, Ohio, where he completed the commercial course. He has followed teaching since he was 15 years of age, and has been principal of normal schools at Ursina, Romney, West Virginia, Meyersdale and Salisbury. Since 1880 he has been a principal of the Meyersdale Normal School. Mr. Cook was county mercantile appraiser in 1880. He is connected with several secret orders, I.O.O.F., K. of P., F. &; A. M., in which he has held prominent offices. W. S. Mock is a native of Bedford County. He learned photography under F. H. Foltz in Bedford, and in 1883 came to Meyersdale and established business for himself. He is skilled in both painting and photography. Dr. W. G. Burns, dentist, was born in Adams County, Ohio, and received his educational training in Geneva (Ohio) College, where he took both a scientific and a classical course. In 1861 he graduated from the Ohio Dental College, Cincinnati. In 1878 he settled in Meyersdale, where he now practices, in partnership with Dr. W., H. Stryker. This firm also has a branch office in Berlin. Dr. Stryker is a graduate of the Pennsylvania Dental College, Philadelphia. Dr. Burns served in the late war in Co. G, 63d Regt. Iowa Vol. Inf., from June, 1883, to March, 1864. M. C. Lowry, a member of Co. A, 10th Penn. Reserves, was wounded and captured at the Battle of Gaines' Mill. After six weeks imprisonment at Belle Island, he was exchanged and rejoined his command. He was killed in the Battle of Fredericksburg, December 12, 1862. Sources: Narrative from History of Bedford and Somerset
Counties, Blackburn and Welfley, 1906. This page last updated August 20, 2007.
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The first
plat of the town was made in 1844, when Jacob Olinger caused 30 lots to
be laid out. Alexander Philson of Berlin was the surveyor. In 1852, an
addition of 40 or 50 lots, embracing the whole of North Street, was laid
out by Jacob Olinger and M. D. Miller, surveyor. The Olinger property
consisted of about 250 acres. In 1869 the Olinger heirs caused the balance
of it to be laid off in town lots; Kenneth McCloud, surveyor.
Adam
Cook built a mill, where the Meyers' Mill now stands, long prior to 1800.
The mill now standing was built by Peter Meyers in 1826. The first store
in the place was kept by Peter and William Meyers in 1831. It stood about
midway of Meyers Avenue. The first hotel was erected in 1848 by James
McGuire. It has since been converted into a dwelling, and is now occupied
by Dr. U. M. Beachley.
The
planing mill of Daniel Schultz was erected by its present owner about
1870. About 100,000 feet of lumber for building purposes is planed yearly.
The planning mill owned by L. Morrill manufactures for the furniture store
of Morrill, Masters, & Co., doing a large business in that line. In
1873 Friedline Brothers (J. H. and H. I.) erected a planning mill at a
cost of about $8,000. In September, 1882, the mill, then owned by J. H.
Friedline, was destroyed by fire. It was rebuilt the same year, and is
now owned and operated by J. H. Friedline and D. S. Cober. This is the
best planning mill in the county, and is provided with the latest and
best machinery. About eight hands are employed, and from 300,000 to 400,000
feet of lumber planed yearly.
Alonzo
Chamberlin, coal operator, is a native of New York State. For 25 years
he has been engaged in the coal trade in Maryland and Pennsylvania. He
came to Meyersdale in 1872, and purchased 1,600 acres of coal land in
Summit Township. In 1875 the Cumberland and Elk Lick Coal Company was
formed, and Mr. Chamberlin elected its vice-president, in which capacity
he still serves. The company now has quite extensive coke works in successful
operation.