George Ackerman

George Ackerman, a native of Lancaster, came to this county in 1828. He is a blacksmith by trade, and now lives in Stony Creek township. For fifteen years he kept hotel in Stoystown. He was also justice of the peace in Quemahoning. Mr. Ackerman married Mary Reese. Children: William, Mary E. (Wilt) and Chauncey F., living; Edwin, John and George, dead. All the sons served in the late war, and Edwin, John and George died from disease contracted in the service. C. F. Ackerman enlisted in March, 1865, and served till July in Co. A, 88th regt. Penn. Vols. He has taught school for ten years, and is now farming on his father's place.

[Source: History of Bedford, Somerset, and Fulton Counties, 1884. Waterman, Watkins & Co. p. 518.]

John Ackerman

John Ackerman came from Lancaster to Stoystown about 1830, and for a number of years was engaged in blacksmithing. He afterward devoted his attention to farming. He is now living in Quemahoning township.

[Source: History of Bedford, Somerset, and Fulton Counties, 1884. Waterman, Watkins & Co. p. 521.]

George Baltzer

George Baltzer was born in Steinbaugh, Germany, in 1808, and came from the kingdom of Hesse to this country in 1821. He settled at Berlin, where he followed the tailor's trade. In 1833 he moved to Stony Creek, where he died in 1876. He married Mary Rayman. Children: Charles L., Edward, John (deceased), Simon, Sylvester, Catharine (Wilson), Elizabeth (Baldwin), Louisa (Stutzman) and Aquilla (Walker). John and Edward served in the late war. The former was in Co. H, 187th regt. Penn. Vols., and was killed at Petersburg in June, 1864. Charles L. Baltzer has been in the mercantile business in Shanksville since 1862. He is the present postmaster, and was appointed in 1871.

[Source: History of Bedford, Somerset, and Fulton Counties, 1884. Waterman, Watkins & Co. p. 521.]

Jeremiah S. Black

The most eminent man ever born in Somerset county was Hon. Jeremiah S. Black, whose biography appears elsewhere, in the chapter devoted to the bench and bar of Somerset county. He was born in Stony Creek township, in 1810, and died at York, Pennsylvania, in 1883. His father was Hon. Henry Black, who was born, lived and died on the same farm. Henry Black was elected four times as a member of the Pennsylvania house of representatives, served twenty years as associate judge of Somerset county, and died while a member of congress, in 1842.

[Source: History of Bedford, Somerset, and Fulton Counties, 1884. Waterman, Watkins & Co. p. 518.]

Christian Brant

Christian Brant, the progenitor of the Brant family, removed from Dauphin county to Stony Creek township prior to 1795. He settled near the site of Shanksville, on the so-called Lazear farm. Mr. Brant and several of his neighbors were accustomed to go to Mercersburg to trade the skins of deer, bears and beavers for salt, flour and other provisions. On one of these trips he was taken ill and died suddenly. His children were: Christian, Abram, Samuel, Adam, George, Elizabeth (wife of Caspar Keller) and Eve (wife of Jacob Keller). All are dead. Abram was an 1812 soldier. Adam was born in Dauphin county, in 1785, and died near Shanksville in 1847. He was a millwright, and worked at his trade for forty years in this county. He married Elizabeth Grove, and was the father of Jacob, Josiah, Chauncey A., Sarah (Lutz), deceased, Eliza (Keefer), Leah (Keefer), Susan (deceased) and Sophie. Josiah is the proprietor of the Glade House, Somerset.

[Source: History of Bedford, Somerset, and Fulton Counties, 1884. Waterman, Watkins & Co. p. 521.]

Chauncey A. Brant

Chauncey A. Brant, Esq., learned the saddler's trade in Stoystown, receiving two dollars and a half for eighteen months' work. Ten years later he worked eighteen months in Pittsburgh, and at the end of the time had twenty-two dollars clear of all expense. He has the first dollar (silver) that he earned (1847). Mr. Brant has been engaged in the mercantile business in Shanksville since 1868. Prior to that time he had followed the saddlery business for sixteen years in this place. He was justice of the peace twenty years, and has held other important township offices. Mr. Brant enlisted in August, 1862, and was discharged in May, 1865; he served as first sergeant in Co. D, 133d regt. Penn. Vols.

[Source: History of Bedford, Somerset, and Fulton Counties, 1884. Waterman, Watkins & Co. p. 521.]

George Brant

George Brant was born in Dauphin county, in 1792, and came to Somerset county. He also followed the business of a millwright. He died in Stony Creek township in 1860. He married Elizabeth Moyer. Children: David (deceased), Martin, John, Jefferson (deceased), Abram, Mary (Shank), Sarah (Switz) and Catharine. John and Jefferson served in the late war. Jefferson was killed at Fredericksburg. Martin Brant owns two steam sawmills, and is also a partner of Charles Shank in the ownership of a planing-mill.

[Source: History of Bedford, Somerset, and Fulton Counties, 1884. Waterman, Watkins & Co. p. 521.]

Augustus Coffroth

The first store was started by Augustus Coffroth, about 1820, on land now owned by Henry Glessner, one mile southeast of Shanksville.

[Source: History of Bedford, Somerset, and Fulton Counties, 1884. Waterman, Watkins & Co. p. 519.]

John Coleman

The Colemans, of Stony Creek, are descended from John Coleman, a native of Germany, who was one of the earliest pioneers of the county, and settled in Brother's Valley. It is stated that he was once offered an unimproved farm near Berlin in exchange for a cowbell. He married Susan Foust, and was the father of nine children : Nicholas, John, George, Frederick, Jacob, Susanna, Sarah, Catharine and Eve. George was a soldier of 1812. He died in Brother's Valley, at the age of sixty-two. His wife was Sarah Shepard. Of their children, Harry, John, William, Phoebe and Mary are living. Two of the sons, Francis and George, died in the late war. John came to Coleman station in 1855, and has since been engaged in farming and milling. His son George has been station agent at Coleman since 1881. Joseph, another son, served one year in the late war.

[Source: History of Bedford, Somerset, and Fulton Counties, 1884. Waterman, Watkins & Co. p. 517.]

Abraham Custer

Abraham Custer was born in Franklin county. He came to Somerset county in 1810, and settled in Conemaugh township. He afterward removed to Quemahoning, where he died at the age of seventy-four. His children were Jacob, Abraham, Henry, Emanuel, Elizabeth (Ray) and Barbara (Bowers). Henry Custer, who was born in Shade, has been a resident of Quemahoning since 1833. He married Elizabeth Shaffer, and is the father of nine children. His son, Franklin P., now carries on the home farm.

[Source: History of Bedford, Somerset, and Fulton Counties, 1884. Waterman, Watkins & Co. p. 518.]

William Fleegle

William Fleegle was born in Bedford county in 1808, and came to Somerset county in 1822. He married, first, Elizabeth Suter, and, second, Harriet Risheberger. Children: Samuel, Jeremiah, Isaac, Edward, Martin, Walter, Maria, Mary, Elizabeth and Margaret. Jeremiah, Edward and Martin served in the late war. Edward died in Andersonville prison. Martin enlisted in August, 1862,; in Co. D, 133d Regt. Penn. Vols.; was discharged in May, 1863: re-enlisted in July, 1863, in Co. H, 1st bat.; discharged in 1864; re-enlisted in February, 1864, in Co. I, 55th regt. Penn. Vols.; discharged in October, 1865. In June, 1864, at Petersburg, he was wounded in the right arm, right hip and left leg.

[Source: History of Bedford, Somerset, and Fulton Counties, 1884. Waterman, Watkins & Co. p. 518.]

Jacob Glessner

Jacob Glessner, who was murdered by Spongenberg at Berlin, came from Germany to this part of Bedford county about the close of the American revolution. His son Jacob, who wasa justice of the peace for many years, was born in 1768. He was a miller and farmer. He married Margaret Foust. Children: Jacob, Joseph, Henry, Sarah, deceased; Edward, Margaret (Miller) and Magdalena (Stoner),living. Joseph was born in Stony Creek township in 1800, and died in 1879. He married Catharine Musser, and was the father of Tobias, Jacob J., John M., Joseph (deceased), Henry, Edmund, Susan (Kimmel), Catharine (Mumman), Mary (deceased) and Sarah (Hillegass). John M. is a farmer in this township, on the place known as the Jacob Miller farm. He owns three hundred acres of land. His farm contains abundance of coal and limestone. Mr.Glessner served one term as justice.

[Source: History of Bedford, Somerset, and Fulton Counties, 1884. Waterman, Watkins & Co. p. 515.]

John L. Glessner

Joseph Glessner

Jacob M. Glessner

George Michael Groff

Probably the first permanent settler was George Michael Groff, in 1766. He came from Berks county, and settled one mile north of Shanksville, on the place now owned by John Mosholder. He was a hunter and fisherman, and is said to have purchased his land from the Indians, paying for it in furs. Many of his descendants are still living in the county.

[Source: History of Bedford, Somerset, and Fulton Counties, 1884. Waterman, Watkins & Co. p. 514]

Keller Brothers

Four brothers—Caspar, Jacob, Henry and Frederick Keller—came from Eastern Pennsylvania, and were among the early settlers of this county. They located on the Allegheny mountain, in Allegheny and Stony Creek townships. Caspar was captain of a company in the war of 1812. All lived in the county, and all reared families except Frederick, who never married. Caspar carried on distilling, where Topper's distillery now is. Josiah Keller, of Somerset, is a son of Frederick Keller (whose father was Jacob, above mentioned). Josiah came to Somerset in 1858, and followed blacksmithing until 1875. He was then elected county treasurer. Since 1878 he has been in the mercantile business.

The first distillery was built by Caspar Keller, prior to 1800. It is now the only one operated in the township. At one time there were twenty-five in the township, and, as may be inferred, whisky drinking was very general.

[Source: History of Bedford, Somerset, and Fulton Counties, 1884. Waterman, Watkins & Co. pp. 517 & 519.]

Jacob Kimmel

The Kimmels are an old family in this county. Their ancestor, Jacob Kimmel, came from Lancaster county to what is now Stony Creek township about the time of the revolution. His farm was one of the first clearings made in the township. He led the rugged life of a pioneer, encountering hardships and privations such, as people of today can scarcely imagine. He died in 1824, at the age of sixty-eight. He married Mary Hoffman, and his children were Abraham, Jacob, Ludwig, Solomon, John, Peter, Jonathan, Elizabeth (Shank) and Mary (Newcomer).

[Source: History of Bedford, Somerset, and Fulton Counties, 1884. Waterman, Watkins & Co. p. 517.]

Jonathan Kimmel

Jonathan Kimmel was born in this township in 1797. For a number of years he was a wagoner on the Pittsburgh and Bedford turnpike. He was elected county commissioner in 1855, and served one term. He married Rosanna Meyers, and was the father of Michael, Josiah, John N., Daniel, Noah (deceased), Jonathan, Mary (Walker) and Susan (Gashaw). Michael is a German Baptist minister. Josiah lives in this township. His second son, Joseph L., lives on the old Glessner farm, and is a German Baptist preacher.

[Source: History of Bedford, Somerset, and Fulton Counties, 1884. Waterman, Watkins & Co. p. 517.]

Philip Kimmel

Philip Kimmel was one of the first settlers in this township. His son Abraham lived and died on the place where his father settled. He married Elizabeth Heiple, and his children were Benjamin, Abraham, Henry, Philip, Elizabeth and Sarah (Will), of whom Philip and Sarah are living. Benjamin was born in 1792. He was county commissioner, and held other offices. He died in 1871. He married Sarah Zerber. Children : Jefferson, Elizabeth (Will), Margaret (dead), Julia A. (Rhoads) and Mary (Kuhns). Jefferson lives on the old homestead of his great-grandfather, and farms two hundred and thirty-six acres.

[Source: History of Bedford, Somerset, and Fulton Counties, 1884. Waterman, Watkins & Co. p. 515.]

Jacob M. Knepper

Jacob Kuhns

Jacob Kuhns, whose father was an early settler, died near Berlin, in 1875. Jacob was born in Brother's Valley. He married Mary Brubaker, and was the father of John, Mary (Beachley) and Eliza (deceased). John married Mary Kimmel, and is the father of William, Samuel, Mary (Landis) and Sadie. William is living on the homestead of two hundred acres, known as the old Kimmel farm, one of the oldest in the township.

[Source: History of Bedford, Somerset, and Fulton Counties, 1884. Waterman, Watkins & Co. p. 517.]

Samuel Kuhns

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