MYERS DISTRICT, No. 3.
Myers District, or the Third District of Carroll County, is bounded on the north by Pennsylvania, on the east by Manchester District, on the south by the districts of Uniontown and Westminster, and on the west by Taneytown District. Big Pipe Creek, Silver Run, and their tributaries flow through the district in many directions, and Piney Creek forms the boundary line on the northwestern border; these fine streams furnishing excellent power for mills, which has been utilized to a considerable extent by the inhabitants. Union Mills, Myersville, Silver Run, and Piney Creek Station, on the Frederick and Pennsylvania Line Railroad, are flourishing villages. The metes and bounds of the district, as laid out by commission appointed in 1837, are as follows:
“Beginning at the end of Royer’s and Guyman’s lane, on Baughman’s county road; thence with said road to Lawyer’s Branch; thence down said branch to Big Pipe Creek; thence with a straight line through Peter Bixler’s farm, leaving said Bixler in District No. 6; thence with a straight line to a branch known by the name of Ohio, where said branch crosses Trump’s county road; thence up said branch through to Wine’s farm, up said branch to its head; thence with a straight line to the nearest point on Rinehart’s county road; thence on said road to the Pennsylvania line; thence with Pennsylvania line to Littlestown and Westminster turnpike; thence down said turnpike to the stone road; thence with said stone road to Grove’s Ford on Big Pipe Creek; thence with said road to the aforesaid turnpike at the 33d mile stone; thence with said turnpike to Rinehart’s county road; thence with said road to Rinehart’s mill; thence up the road by Rinehart’s dam; thence with said road, between Frederick Baughman’s farm and Jacob Snyder’s, to Andrew Angel’s, leaving said Angel in District No. 7; thence to Bixler’s tan-yard, leaving said Bixler in District No. 7 ; thence with a straight line to the beginning.”
By an act of the General Assembly of Maryland, passed April 2, 1841, the division line between the Third (Myers) and Seventh (Westminster) Districts was altered and made as follows: “Beginning at the natural boundary at the intersection of Big Pipe Creek, in Peter Bixler’s meadow, and running thence by a direct line to Jacob Frock’s dwelling-house, leaving the same in the Seventh Election District; thence by a direct line to Adam and William Bishe’s
dwelling-house, leaving the same in the Seventh Election District, and thence to the Westminster and Littlestown turnpike road, at the intersection of the stone road, which was then the boundary line between the Third and Seventh Election Districts.” The district in 1880 had a population of 1959.
Union Mills was made the place for holding the polls. The district was named in honor of the Myers family, one of the first to settle in this portion of Carroll County, one of whose descendants, Samuel W. Myers, assisted in laying out the nine districts into which Carroll was originally divided in 1837.
A tract of land known as “Ohio,” containing nine thousand seven hundred and fifty acres, was patented to Samuel Owings in 1763.
The early settlers were almost entirely Germans from York and Lancaster Counties, in Pennsylvania, or directly from the Palatinate, and to this day there are in its limits but few families not of German extraction.
For the first half-century of its history and settlement the German was the only tongue spoken, and after that, for a generation, the German and English languages were spoken indiscriminately, but since 1835 the English only has been used. These settlers were a hardy and thrifty race, of strong religious sentiments, and rapidly increased in numbers and wealth. Among the pioneers were Joseph Leaman, Nicholas Deal, George Michael Derr, Charles Angel, the Erbs, Myerses, Bankerds, Naills, Krouses, Yinglings, Farmwaits, Hessons, Flicklingers, Koontz’, Frocks, Bixlers, Bachmans, Groffs, Hahns, Wivels, Kesselrings, Leppoes, and afterwards there came the Burgoons, Joneses, Morelocks, Gearharts, Fishers, and others.
Over a century ago “Bankerd’s mill” was in operation on the site of the present Union Mills, and
“Groff’s mill” was located where now James E. Dodrer has a saw and grist-mill, both on Big Pipe Creek.
The Shriver Family and. Union Mills.—Andrew Shriver, son of David and Rebecca (Ferree) Shriver, was born on Little Pipe Creek (Westminster District), Nov. 7, 1762, and was the eldest of nine children. His parents were among the first settlers in this section of country. He was married Dec. 31, 1786, to Miss Elizabeth Shultz, daughter of John Shultz, at his house in Baltimore, by Rev. William Otterbein, a distinguished clergyman of that day. His wife was born Aug. 15, 1767, and died Sept. 27, 1839. Their children were John Shultz, born March 1, 1788; Thomas, born Sept. 2, 1789; Rebecca, born Dec. 29, 1790; Matilda, born Oct. 3, 1792; James, born at Littlestown, Pa., April 4, 1794; William, born at same place, Dec. 23, 1796, and died June 11, 1879; Elizabeth, born at Union Mills, March 14, 1799; and Andrew Keyser, born at the same place, March 25, 1802; Ann Maria, born March 13, 1804; Joseph, born Jan. 11, 1806; and Catharine, born May 27, 1808.
All of these children grew up and married respectably, and left surviving children to perpetuate their name and lineage.
After the death of his wife, Elizabeth, in 1839, Andrew Shriver continued to live at the old homestead at Union Mills until his death, Sept. 20, 1847, aged nearly eighty-five years. In the fall of 1784, when twenty years of age, with a capital of four hundred and sixty pounds, having been assisted to this extent, perhaps, by his father, who had accumulated considerable means, Andrew Shriver engaged in the mercantile business on Little Pipe Creek, and subsequently in Baltimore. After his marriage in 1786 he continued to make his home with his wife on Little Pipe Creek until 1791, when he removed to Littlestown, Pa., where he kept a store and tavern until 1797. On June 26th of that year he removed with his family, then comprising six children, to the Union Mills property, which he bought, in partnership with his brother David, of the heirs of Jacob Bankerd, deceased. This property is located on the northern branch of Pipe Creek, in what was then Frederick, now Carroll County, five miles southeast of the Pennsylvania State line. Andrew and David Shriver experienced great difficulty in gaining possession of their property. David Shriver, Sr., was then, and for some thirty years afterwards, employed by them to get a chancery decree for the sale of the land of the Bankerd estate. He was at length successful, and was appointed trustee for the sale of the property. Andrew Shriver became the purchaser of a large part of the land, together with the mill, then almost on the same site as that occupied by the present structure. They got possession of the property with difficulty, even after its sale, some of the heirs not being willing to yield. By arrangement of the above partners with John Mung, a millwright, work on the mill was completed satisfactorily for the sum of four hundred and thirty dollars. This agreement was witnessed by James McSherry, Dr. S. Duncan, and Susannah Showers (sister of Andrew and David Shriver), and dated Jan. 26, 1797. An agreement of the same parties, of the same date, with Henry Kohlstock, carpenter,—
“Witnesseth that for and in consideration of one hundred pounds to be paid by the said Andrew and David Shriver to the said Henry Kohlstock, he, the said Kohlstock, agrees to finish two small houses, fourteen by seventeen feet each, to be connected by a porch and passage about ten feet wide,—that is to say, he is to do all the joiner work so as to complete said houses, passage, porch, and stairways, agreeably to a plan thereof now produced; also to do all the carpenter work of a mill house forty by fifty feet, and to complete the whole thereof in a sufficient and neat, workmanlike manner, as expeditiously as possible; and further, finally to complete the whole, he is to paint the work, both dwelling and mill house, in a proper and sufficient manner; they, Andrew and David Shriver, to find all the materials, paint, oil, etc.
“R. MCILHENNY, JOHN MONG, Witnesses.”
This house was completed according to the agreement and occupied, and one of the rooms on the ground-floor was used, for a store. The partnership between the brothers suggested the name of the “Union Mills” to their homes, which was subsequently extended to embrace the whole village. The date of the dissolution of the firm is not exactly known. David was afterwards employed in locating and constructing the National road from Baltimore through Fredericktown, Hagerstown, and Cumberland to Wheeling, on the Ohio River. He displayed great skill in working iron, having made some of the most difficult parts of the mill-machinery (the appliances at hand being embraced in an ordinary blacksmith-shop at this place), some of which are still about the premises, and will compare favorably with the productions of the best workmen of the present day. A couple of pair of steelyards, with his name stamped upon them, are now in use, and are perfectly reliable, the State inspector of weights and measures having certified to their accuracy some twenty years since. The Shriver family developed great skill in working iron. At a very early date they had a shop at Little Pipe Creek, in which they all worked at times for different purposes, and Isaac Shriver took a contract from the government to furnish a large quantity of gun-barrels, to be delivered at a stated time. Although the designated time was short for that day, he finished the contract according to the terms and to the satisfaction of the authorities. Andrew Shriver, after the removal of his brother David from the mills, continued to keep a store for the sale of general merchandise, and secured for the village a post-office, of which he took charge. He also held the office of magistrate for a long time, and it was chiefly owing to his influence that the public road was opened from Union Mills to Hanover, Pa. He was afterwards instrumental in getting the turnpike from Baltimore to Chambersburg through the village. With a growing family and continued prosperity in business, Mr. Shriver required more house-room, and wings were added at different periods to the original building. Architectural beauty was not much studied, but the mansion is quaint and picturesque. It still stands with but little alteration, and is now occupied by Andrew K. Shriver, one of the sons, born under its ancient roof. Andrew Shriver, although an active politician, as was also his father, never held any public office other than magistrate, which position he filled during the greater part of his life, having been retained through all the political changes which occurred in the State. His magisterial services were highly appreciated, and were characterized by moderation and dignity. Very few appeals from his decisions to the higher court were made, thus saving expense to the county, as well as to individuals. In his judicial business, which extended over a wide region, he exerted a large personal influence, often acted as peacemaker between litigants, and brought about amicable settlements where a continued appeal to law tended only to make matters worse. Elizabeth Shriver, wife of Andrew Shriver, as mistress of a large household and mother in the family, was an admirable Christian woman, and her influence had much to do in moulding the character and shaping the future of her children. The children of Andrew and Elizabeth Shriver were married thus: John Shultz to Henrietta Myers, of Baltimore; Thomas, three times,—first, to Ann Sharp, of York, Pa., and the third time to Miss Sherrard; Rebecca Ferree to James Renshaw, of York, Pa.; Matilda to Michael H. Spangler, of York, Pa.; James to Elizabeth B. Miller, of Uniontown, Pa.; William to Mary Owings, of Littlestown, Pa.; Elizabeth (Eliza) to Lawrence J. Brengle, of Frederick (after the decease of Catharine Shriver, his first wife); Andrew Keyser, on Feb. 16, 1837, to Catharine Wirt, of Hanover, Pa. (who died Aug. 24, 1873); Ann Maria to William Tell Steiger, of Washington, D.C.; Joseph to Henrietta Coston, of Washington, D.C.; Catharine to Lawrence J. Brengle, of Frederick. The children of these several family unions form a large connection, and are scattered over a wide extent of country, though the majority of them are living in the vicinity of the old homestead. Andrew K. and William, two of the sons, with parts of their families, retain the mill property in their possession at this date, 1881. This place is on the Baltimore and Reisterstown turnpike,—the old road to Pittsburgh,—over which noted thoroughfare in the days of stage-coaches there was an immense deal of travel. Among the many eminent men who tarried overnight or stopped for meals at the old Shriver mansion was Washington Irving, who spent the Sabbath there, and a chapter of the recollections of his stay is found in his writings, but the scene is laid in England. The first postmaster was Andrew Shriver, the present efficient officer Andrew K. Shriver, and William Shriver once held the office. For nearly fourscore years, save a brief space of time, this office has always been in the Shriver family. B.F. Shriver & Co. now operate the flouring-mill, and run a large canning-factory, while the tannery is run by A.K. Shriver & Sons on the same site where the first enterprise of that character was located in 1795.
William Shriver was born at Littlestown, Pa., Dec. 23, 1796, and at the time of his death, which occurred in 1879, was one of the proprietors of the flour-mills, and of the old estate there, which had been in the family many years. He was a brother to the late John S. Shriver, so well known as the president of the Ericsson line of steamboats between Baltimore and Philadelphia. He had several brothers, one of them, Thomas Shriver, living in New York City, ninety years old. Mr. Shriver’s father was a very old man when he died, and the family is generally long-lived. He left an aged wife and a large number of children and great-grandchildren. He celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of his wedding several years ago. Few persons had a larger personal acquaintance or more friends than the deceased.
The following is a list of persons living within a radius of four or five miles of Union Mills, and all, with a few exceptions, in Myers District, who were seventy years old and upwards in 1879:
Years. Years.
Christina Yingling 80 Samuel Lookingbill 77
William Shriver 83 Isaac Beal 76
Mrs. Mary Shriver 72 George Stegner 88
Andrew K. Shriver 77 Mrs. Rebecca Leppo 80
Peter Yingling 82 Mrs. Catharine Meyers 84
Mrs. Yingling 74 Mrs. Mary Yeiser 91
Mrs. Willet 73 Mrs. Sarah Little 75
Jacob Slyder 84 John Stonesifer 84
John Koontz 76 Mrs. Rachel Warner 85
Philip Arter 75 Mrs. Margaret Duce 71
John Frock, of J 72 Henry Duttaror 73
Isaac Bankert 77 Mrs. Mary Kelly 79
John Flickinger 73 John Study 74
Jacob Leister 77 Jacob Mikesell 90
Mrs. Elizabeth Kump 94 Daniel Leppo 73
Jacob Hahn 76 John Snyder 76
Samuel Hahn 75 Mrs. Elizabeth Myers 77
Mrs. Sarah Shull 79 George Fleagle, Sr. 82
George Bowman 77 Mrs. Lydia Fleagle 76
Andrew Stopesjfer 77 Mrs. Judith Crumrine 81
Mrs. Mary Stonesifer 74
Directly across Big Pipe Creek is a village laid out by Peter E. Myers and called Myersville; but as the post-office is called Union Mills, the latter is the name by which the mills and the village are generally known. The Methodist Episcopal church was erected in 1880, and has a flourishing Sunday-school attached to it, of which William Yingling is superintendent.
Carroll Academy was organized in 1838, and a stone building was erected by stock subscriptions. The first trustees were William Shriver, William N. Burgoon, John Erb, Peter E. Myers, and Isaac Bankerd; secretary of the board, A.K. Shriver. The first principal was James Burns, an Irishman, the second, James Small, and among their successors were Bushrod Poole, Christian Erb, Samuel S. Shriver, John G. Wolf, John A. Renshaw, Bernard McManus, and Mr. Bardwell. Upon the creation of the public school system, the academy passed under the control of the school authorities. Mr. Burns, the first teacher of the academy, organized the first
Sunday-school in the district,—a union school and not denominational. Dr. William R. Cashing is the physician of the town. F.M. Hall is a prominent merchant in Union Mills. William Bankerd, Joseph Erb, Samuel Stonesifer are coopers; John Beemiller, Jesse Koontz, shoemakers; W.G. Byers, undertaker; J. William Everhart, surveyor; Jesse Legare is a justice of the peace; Jeremiah Myers carries on a saw-mill; Jesse Myers and P. Wolf are millers; John Myers is a manufacturer of brick. The blacksmiths are Samuel Stansbury, Samuel Orem, William Tagg & Sons; William Rennaker is a carpenter; Ephraim and Ezra J. Yingling are tinners; and Martin Yingling, a cabinet-maker.
Silver Run is on the turnpike from Westminster to Littlestown, Pa., nine miles from the former and five from the latter. Its postmaster is John N. Mark, and assistant, Augusta J. Mark. The village is near the stream, Silver Run, from which it takes its name. The village store is kept by Albaugh & Haines, and the hotel by Andrew Wisner. J. Henry Knipple is justice of the peace, and Dr. James M. Marshall, the physician. The various industries are represented by Elias Bankerd, wheelwright; Joseph Beemiller, J.W. Little, shoemakers; Mrs. T. Kesselring, millinery and confectionery; Henry and Jacob Koontz, blacksmiths; George L. Little, cabinet-maker; and Rufus Strouse, constable.
St. Mary’s Church is on “Silver Run,” and is the joint place of worship of the German Reformed and Lutheran congregations. The present church edifice is of stone, and was erected in 1822. It is on a tract of land called “Dyer’s Mill Forest,” adjoining a survey called “Lewis’ Luck.” It occupies the site of the first church, a rude log structure, built in 1768. The deed for the fifteen acres on which it is located was made by Joseph Dyer in 1768 to John Leaman, Nicholas Deal, George Michael Derr, Charles Angel, of the “Dutch Congregation of Silver Run,” a committee of the Lutheran and Reformed Calvinists. The consideration named in the conveyance is £4 3s.
9d. The witnesses to its execution were William Blair and Abraham Hayton. It was duly acknowledged March 21, 1769, before “His Lordship’s Justices of the Peace,” William Blair and Thomas Price. On the back of this instrument is a receipt from Christopher Edelin acknowledging to have received “7 pence half-penny stirling,” as alienation fee on the said fifteen acres, from Daniel, of St. Thomas Jenifer, his lordship’s agent. This was ground-rent money due the Lord Proprietor, and payable semi-annually at the two annual feasts at St. Mary’s, but which had to be paid before a good conveyance could be obtained. This deed was recorded March 27, 1769. Rev. J.G. Noss is the present Reformed pastor, and Rev. J.M. Alleman the Lutheran, and H.W. Shriver the superintendent of the Reformed Sunday-school.
Immediately above the junction of Silver Run with Big Pipe Creek, on the latter, John Wiest has large flouring-mills, and David B. Earhart has a fulling-mill.
West of Union Mills, on Big Pipe Creek, James E. Dodrer has flouring-mills, once called “Old Graves’ mills,” but put down on the old maps, made a century ago, as “Groffs mill.”
Piney Creek Station is on the Frederick and Pennsylvania Line Railroad, in the northwestern part of the district. C. Shere is the postmaster and merchant, and P.M. Wiest has charge of a mill on the Westminster turnpike. At the boundary line dividing Myers from Westminster District is “Mount Pleasant Academy,” built in 1854, and a store kept by John Crouse. There is a saw- and grist-mill on the estate of the late Dr. Study, on Big Pipe Creek. Near the Hanover road, in the north of the district, are large beds of iron ore. In the eastern part, on Big Pipe Creek, A. Fusir has a store and flour-mill.
The first physicians who practiced in the district were Dr. Wampler, of Hanover, Dr. Shorb, of Littlestown, and the Taneytown doctors. There were no resident physicians for many years after the first settlement. Dr. Study, long ago deceased, was the pioneer in his profession, and he was succeeded by his son, Dr. John Study, who still practices in the neighborhood.
The following is a list of public school trustees and teachers for Myers District for 1881 and 1882:
1. Mount Pleasant.—J. Crouse, Frank Burgoon, John C. Bankert.
2 and 3. Carroll Academy.—Jacob Humbert, H.W. Shriver, John Bemiller.
4. Wisner’s.—Jacob Feever, Larkin Belt, John H. Baum.
5. Bishe’s.—Emanuel Yeizer, Samuel Getting, Josiah Steiner.
6. Humbert’s.—Ezra M. Lawyer, Lewis Morelock, George Humbert.
7. Mauss’.—John Maus, Cyrus Feever, Absalom Koontz.
8. Green Mount.—Jacob P. Hull, John Starr, John Boose.
9. Erb’s.—Jesse Lemon, S. Keefer, Jacob Marker.
10. Good Hope.—George Bowers, William Yingling, John Leister.
11. Cover’s.—Samuel Cover, Solomon Boose, Joseph Mathias.
12. Cherry Grove.—Peter Kump, David Shull, William A. Lippo.
The teachers for the term ending April 13, 1881, were:
1, C.H. Bixler, 43 pupils; 2, John Burgoon, 20 pupils; 3, Isaac Wright, 44 pupils; 4, G.W. Yeizer, 50 pupils; 5, J.H. Stonesifer, 40 pupils; 6, G.F. Morelock, 30 pupils 7, John N. Mark, 49 pupils; 8, A.F. GaIt, 43 pupils; 9, George Fleagle, 63 pupils; 10, N.H. Kester, 45 pupils; 11, Richard Dell, 41 pupils; 12, A.S. Morelock, 35 pupils.
Below are given the votes cast for local officers in Myers District from 1851 to 1861 inclusive:
1851.—Vote for Primary School commissioners: William Earhart 89, A.K. Shriver 59, Samuel Bowers 37, J. William Earhart 134, P.B. Mikesell 49.
1853.—For Justices: William Tagg 135, John Koontz 196, D.B. Earhart 157, Daniel Stonesifer 153; Constables: Perry Rumler 125, Peter Wolf 204, Samuel Bowers 92, Peter Lingenfelter 88, John Hornberger 56; Road Supervisor: David Circle 77, James E. Dodrer 146, Peter E. Myers 17.
1855.—For Justices: Samuel Bowers 42, J.W. Earhart 99, D.B. Earhart 72, Eli Erb 28, Henry Shuler 122, Peter Kump 117, D. Stonesifer 68; Constables: D.E. Leister 79, W.H. Lippy 56; Peter Rumler 102; Daniel Shull 167, J.H. Wimert 122; Road Supervisor: Peter B. Myers 98, Abraham Koontz 190.
1857.—For Justices: D. Stonesifer 177, P.B. Mikesell 223, William Tagg 108, D.B. Earhart 71; Constables: J.H. Knipple 203, J.L. Farmwalt 185, P. Rumler 130, B.J. Matthias 51; Road Supervisor: Daniel Lippo 232.
1859.—For Justices: John Maus 257, P.B. Mikesell 262; Constable: J.H. Knipple 219, Gershom Huff 235, W.N. Burgoon 134; Road Supervisor: Daniel Lippo 183, Emanuel Yeiser 132.
1861.—For Justices: J.W. Earhart 183, D.H. Rudolph 150, D.B. Earhart 55, John Maus 194, Eli Erb 129; Constables: D.L. Feeser 170, Levi Bish 127, Joshua Wisner 53, G. Huff 193, B.J. Matthias 154; Road Supervisor: Moses Troxell 182, Michael Shull 185.
History of Western Maryland, by Louis H. Everts, 1882, Chapter 39A, p. 830--.)
Transcribed by Carol C. Eddleman.