the Rev. Thomas Craighead was the first pastor. He was called in 1737, installed in October, 1738, and died in June of the ensuing year. In relation to him, one of his lineal descendants, Thomas Craighead, Jr., then living at White Hill, Cumberland county, thus wrote, under date of December 16th, 1845, to Mr. Rupp :

"At Big Spring, protracted meetings were held for public worship. So powerful, it is said, were the influences of the Spirit, that the worshipers felt loath, even after having exhausted their stores of provisions, to disperse. I have heard it from the lips of those present, when Thomas Craighead delivered one of the parting discourses, that his flow of eloquence seemed supernatural,--he continued in bursts of eloquence while his audience was melted to tears, himself, however, exhausted, hurried to pronounce the blessing, waving his hand, and as he pronounced the words, 'farewell, farewell!' he sank down, and expired without a groan or struggle. His remains rest where the church now stands, the only monument of his memory." After Mr. Craighead's demise, Mr. James Lyon, of Ireland, supplied the pulpit at Hopewell for some months. After his term of service had expired, Big Spring was connected with Rocky Spring and Middle Spring, as a charge, under an arrangement "that the minister's labours be equally divided in a third part to each place, as being most for the glory of God and good of His people." The next point at which it is possible to write with any confidence of the regular occupancy of this pulpit is 1759. In that year the Rev. George Duffield was installed over Carlisle and Big Spring. The Rev. William Linn was Mr. Duffield's successor over the latter church when it became a separate charge. He resigned the pastorate in 1784. Mr. Linn was succeeded by the Rev. Samuel Wilson, who continued with the church until he was removed by death, in March, 1799. The call which he received to take charge of the church is still in the possession of his descendants, in which the congregation promises to Mr. Wilson "the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds, Pennsylvania currency, in specie, and to allow him the use of the dwelling-house, barn, and all the clear land on the glebe, possessed by their former minister, also plenty of timber for rails and fire-wood, likewise a sufficient security for the payment of the above mentioned sums during his incumbency." The Rev. Joshua Williams, D. D., was called to Big Spring church in 1802, and resigned the pastorate about 1829. His successors have been, the Rev. Robert McCachren, who was pastor until 1851, the Rev. Mr. Henderson, the Rev. Mr. Maury, and the Rev. E. Erskine, D. D. The earliest elders of Big Spring, now known, were John Carson, John McKeehan, John Bell, David Ralston, Sr., Thomas Jacobs, Alexander Thompson, William Lindsay, and Atcheson Laughlin..

PROGRESS OF THE PLACE.

It is with Newville now, as with other localities in Cumberland valley-in gazing upon it the mind is filled with amazement at the mighty change which has taken place. The time is almost within the memory of some who live, when the dark shadows of the gloomy forest fell upon all that region, and the savage Indian roamed over the surrounding hills and valleys, but now the eye is there called to survey a large and prosperous town, with admirable schools and handsome churches, the circumjacent country highly cultivated, and densely inhabited with a moral and religious population, the whistle of the rushing rail-car having taken the place of the war-whoop,* as travelers are borne along with rapid speed, and the quiet magnetic wires annihilating both time and space with the electric celerity of their communications.

MIDDLE SPRING.

The Presbyterian church at Middle Spring, about two miles north of Shippensburg,

* The Cumberland Valley Railroad was incorporated in 1834.

came into existence about the year 1740. In 1738, a place of worship was erected, which was a log building, near the gate of the "Lower Graveyard," about thirty-five feet square. Soon this edifice, in which, for a while there was preaching only four or five times a year, was found to be too small to accommodate the people, and it was demolished, and another of the same material erected on the same spot. This was considerably larger, being about fifty-eight feet long and forty-eight feet wide. In a little while it became necessary again that the house of worship should have its capacity extended, and this desideratum was effected by removing three sides of the building then in use, and embracing a little more space on either side, which was covered with a roof, something in the form of a shed. Up the sides of these additions to the main edifice, and over the roofs, were fixed wooden steps, by which access was gained into the gallery. This arrangement was made for want of room in the interior of the building for the construction of a stairway. About the year 1781, the old stone church was erected, whose site, as many yet living well remember, was beside that of the present building. This was still larger than its predecessor (being fifty-eight by sixty-eight feet), and was necessarily so, by reason of the rapid increase of population. About the same time that this church was built, and which, for its day, was one of more than ordinary elegance, the graveyard, immediately in its rear, was located. The present building at Middle Spring was erected in 1848.

TRIALS BEFORE SESSION.

The subjoined extracts from the Session-Book of this church, will serve to show the spirit of the times:

"1744. The Session condemn D. S.'s manner of expressing himself, as being very untender to his neighbour's character, and appoint the Moderator to occasion to warn their people against speaking abroad slanderous reports upon neighbours, either privately, or more publicly in company, and more especially when they have no solid grounds for, or knowledge of them, as being very inconscientious, discovering a willingness or disposition to take up an ill report, a breach of the ninth commandment, in backbiting their neighbour, wounding to religion, having a tendency to fill the minds of people with jealousies, and thereby exposing church judicatories oftentimes to reflections, as tho' they covered sin, when upon tryal they can't find guilt."

"1746. J. P. was cited to the Session for taking venison from an Indian, and giving him meal and butter for it on the Sabbath day. J. P. appeared and acknowledged that being at home one Sabbath day, he heard a gun go off twice quickly after each other, and said he would go out and see what it was, his wife dissuading him, he said he would go and see if he could hear the Horse-bell: having gone a little way he saw an Indian, who had just killed a fawn and dressed it: the Indian coming towards the house with him to get some victuals, having, he said, eat nothing that morning, he saw a deer, and shot it, and charged and shot again at another, which ran away. Said P. stood by the Indian until he skin'd the deer; when he had done he told said P. he might take it in if he wou'd, for he would take no more with him; upon which said P. and W. K., who then had come to them, took it up, and carry'd 'it in; when he had given the Indian his breakfast, said Indian ask'd if he had any meal, he said he had, and gave him some; then the Indian ask'd for butter, and asking his wife about it, he gave the Indian some; but he denies that he gave these things as a reward for the venison, inasmuch as they had made no bargain about it.

"The Session judge that J. P. do acknowledge his breach of Sabbath in this matter, and be rebuk'd before the Session for his sin."

The Rev. Mr. Calls, of Ireland, and the Rev. Mr. Clarke, of Scotland, served the congregation of Middle Spring, each of them about six months or a year. They were succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Blair, of the duration of whose pastorate we are not able to write. Nothing definite is known of the supply of the pulpit until 1765, when the Rev. Robert Cooper was chosen overseer of the flock. Dr. Cooper continued in the pastoral relation until 1797. The Rev. John Moodey succeeded Dr. Cooper in 1803

and continued in office about fifty years. The pastors of the church, since his resignation, have been the Rev. Messrs. Hays, Richardson, and Wylie.

SHIPPENSBURG.

This borough, called after its original proprietor, Edward Shippen, and the oldest town, except York, in Pennsylvania, was incorporated January 21st, 1819. During the French and Indian wars, two forts, Fort Morris and Fort Franklin, were erected there, the remains of one of which were, until within a few years, still to be seen. Some idea of the size and condition of the place, about a century and a quarter since, may be derived from the subjoined extracts from a letter dated June 14th, 1755, to Governor Morris, from Charles Swaine, who was then on a visit to the place on public busi

ness:

"I judge there are sufficient buildings for storing the provisions without erecting any."

"I find not above two pastures here, those but mean as to grass, from drought, but there is a fine range of forage for upwards of four miles in the woods, quite to the foot of the South mountain."

The present prosperous condition of the town contrasts pleasantly with its feeble beginning. In it, in its early history, many of the frontier settlers in their flight for life from the Indians, took refuge. “In July, 1763," says Gordon,* "there were here, one thousand three hundred and eighty-four of these poor, distressed inhabitants. Of these, three hundred and one were male adults, three hundred and forty-five women, and seven hundred and thirty-eight children, many of whom were obliged to lie in stables, barns, cellars, and under old leaky sheds, the dwelling houses being all crowded. The inhabitants were kept in constant alarm for eight or ten years, not knowing at what moment they would be surprised by a blood-thirsty enemy." The same author says: "The 17th of March, 1764, the Indians carried off five people from within nine miles of Shippensburg, and shot one man through the body. The enemy, supposed to be eleven in number, were pursued successfully by about one hundred provincials. The houses of John Stewart, Adam Simms, James McCamman, William Baird, James Kelly, Stephen Caldwell and John Boyd were burnt. These people lost all their grain, which they had threshed out, with the intention to send it, for safety, further down among the inhabitants."

CHURCHES.

One of the earliest churches in Shippensburg was the Associate Reformed Presbyterian. Until this organization was effected the Episcopal element was, perhaps, dominant in the borough, through the influence of Mr. Shippen, the proprietor, who was connected with that denomination. This church was under the care of the Second Presbytery of Philadelphia, in connection with the Associate Reformed Synod. Its first pastor was the Rev. James Walker, who resigned the charge in 1820. The pulpit was then filled by the Rev. Thomas M. Strong. In 1823, the Rev. Henry R. Wilson was called, with the permission of the Presbytery, to take charge of the congregation, and continued in connection with that body until 1825, when it was dissolved, and he was received by the Presbytery of Carlisle. Dr. Wilson continued to be pastor of the church until 1839. The Rev. James Harper, D. D., was the successor of Dr. Wilson, assuming the pastorate in 1840, and withdrawing from it in 1872. The Rev. W. W. Taylor, of Philadelphia, then took charge of the congregation, serving them for two years.

The first elders of this church, of whom there is any record, were John Means and

* History of Pennsylvania.

William Bard. The following persons have since successively constituted the session : George McGinniss, John Reside, Daniel Henderson, Stephen Culbertson, Benjamin Reynolds, Alexander P. Kelso, William Rankin, M. D., Robert Mateer, Benjamin Snodgrass, John Mateer, John Craig, John Bridges, and Robert C. Hays, M. D.

The old white church, in which the congregation worshiped for many years, was a short time after Dr. Harper's settlement, claimed by a few Associate Reformed members still resident in the place, and their claim was confirmed by an appeal to the civil law. The Presbyterian congregation then erected a neat edifice for worship in another part of the town, which, after standing some years, gave place to the present beautiful and commodious structure, so creditable to the taste and liberality of the people. Methodist, Lutheran and German Reformed congregations were organized in this place at an early day, and all of them now have handsome and convenient churches. One of the principal ornaments of Shippensburg is the very large and handsome Cumberland Valley State Normal School, of which we here furnish a picture. The charter of this institution was secured in April, 1870, its corner-stone was laid with Masonic rites May 31st, 1871, it was accepted by the State authorities as a State Normal School for the Seventh Normal District July 22d, 1873, and it was inaugurated April 15th, 1873, the school opening with three hundred students in attendance. The ground owned by it embraces ten acres which are admirably adapted for ornamentation and use, and the cost of which inclusive of that of the buildings, was about $135,000. Of this amount the state paid $40,000, and $60,000 have been raised by private subscription to the stock of the Institution. Its present Principal is George P. Beard. Its Board of Trustees consists of Hon. A. G. Miller, Hon. Lemuel Todd, John A. Craig, E. J. McCune, George R. Dykeman, Hon. Geo. W. Skinner, H. G. Skiles, J. A. C. McCune, John Grabill, Samuel M. Wherry, William Mell, N. L. Dykeman, C. L. Shade, and J. H. McCullough.

A TRADITION OF CONOCOCHEAGUE VALLEY.

Before Franklin county was established, September 9th, 1784, it constituted the southwestern part of Cumberland county, and was designated "The Conococheague settlement," from its principal stream, the Conococheague creek. It is a tradition that a great part of the best lands in the Conococheague Valley were, at the first settlement of the county, 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 plums, and crab apples. It was then called generally "the barrens." The timber was to be found on or near the water-courses, and on the slate soil. This accounts for the preference given by the early Scotch-Irish settlers to the slate lands, before the limestone lands were surveyed or located. The slate had the attractions of wood, watercourses and meadows, and was free from rock at the surface. Before 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 Pennsylvania.

EARLY SETTLERS AT CHAMBERSBURG.

Among the first to explore and settle the Kittochtinny valley, were four adventurous brothers, James, Robert, Joseph and Benjamin Chambers, who emigrated from the county of Antrim, in Ireland, to the province of Pennsylvania, between the years. 1726 and 1730. Benjamin, the youngest brother, settled permanently at the confluence of Falling Spring and Conococheague creeks, where Chambersburg is situated. He was