Elliott, Harvey J. (b. 19 SEP 1866, d. 27 MAR 1890)

Source: (Birth)
Title: Tombstone
Media: Tombstone

Source: (Name)
Title: Alexander Hunter's day book
Media: Other

Source: (Birth)
Title: 1930 Census

Data:
Text: age 87 in 1930. Somerset twp. SOMERSET, Roll 2150 Book 1, Page 95b

Note: I have his day book.

I found a marriage record in Allegany County, MD for Alex Hunter and Nancy Morgan. Just two weeks after their first son was born. Is this the right entry. Where did the name Morgan come from?
1821 11/14 Hunter, Alex Morgan, Nancy

Source: (Name)
Title: Alexander Hunter's day book
Media: Other

Occupation: Place: Farmer

Source: (Name)
Title: Alexander Hunter's day book
Media: Other

Note: Beford County, The common Wealth of Pennsylvania page 338 Volume unknown

To the Sheriff of
Bedford County, Greetings.

Whereas Benjamin Valentine one of the heirs of Andrew Valentine late of
Londonderry Township, presented a petition to the Orphans Court of the said
County of Bedford on the 29, day of April A.D. 1836 setting fourth that
the said Andrew Valentine lately died intestate leaving a widow and
several Children to wit: Jacob, William, Pheobe, Benjamin, your petitioner, Drucilla,
Rebecca intermarried with Jacob Shroyer and Martha a minor over the age
of 14 years and the widow Martha now intermarried with John Moyer.

1800 Census:
Andrew Valentine, 1 male under 10, 1 male 16-25 (that would be Andrew), 1 female 16-25 (Martha), 1 female 26-44 (probably his wife's mother).
Year: 1800; Census Place: Cumberland Valley and Londonderry, Bedford, Pennsylvania; .Roll: 36; Page: 421; Image: 60.

Note: Recorded Will Book Volume 2 Page 35
Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Probated Nov. 20, 1820

In the name of God Amen I Jacob Vallentine being very weak in Bodily health but of sound Memory I do therefore desire to settle all my worldly affairs and make this my last will and testament.
First I recommend my Soul in the hand of the living God who gave it and my body to the earth in decent of Christian Burial at the discretion of my executor and executrix. I give and bequeath unto my son Adam one suckling horse colt and after my debts and funeral expenses are paid. I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Margrete all the remainder of my personal estate during her natural life, my stepdaughter Phebe to have and equal share with the rest of my children. I give and bequeath my real estate to my wife aforesaid during her natural life, after her decease it is my will that my daughter Elizabeth shall have all my land and real estate as their own right and property forever. lastly, I make my beloved son Andrew, and my beloved wife Margarete Executor and Executrix of all my estate both real and personal. I therefore ratify this to be my last will and testament diannulling and making void all former wills and [legacies was written in the original but x out.] testaments ratified.
Signed and confirmed under my hand and seal this thirty first day of October Eighteen Hundred and Twenty.

His Mark Jacob X Vallentine.

Signed and acknowledged in our presence and in the presence of each other.

Frederick x Vallentine Frederick x Ries

Whereas since the making of my will dated the thirty first day of October last it is discovered that it was omitted in what manner my personal estate was to be disposed of, it is therefore my will that after the disclose of my wife Margret mentioned in the aforesaid will that all my personal estate shall be divided into equal shares among all my children Sons and all alike shares to my daughters Eve, Barbary, Cathrina, and Elizabeth, and that my step daughter Phebe shall have and equal share with my children all alike and equal share [with each other, interlined] with said last will and testament every clause bequest and devise therein contained, I do hereby ratify and confirm do therefore hear by make this my codicil will and direct shall be taken and held as a part of my said will and testament.

Whereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed my seal this second day of November Eighteen Hundred and Twenty.

Jacob Vallentine


Source: Mother Bedford and the American Revolution, by Larry D. Smith. 1999. Closson Press.

p. 153-154 - "The names of Patriots who appeared [on muster rolls] as residents of Bedford County at the start of the war in 1775." Jacob Valentine.

I was never really able to reconcile "his step-daughter Phebe" mentioned in the will. This would seem to indicate two wives, but I've never found record of any other wife. Also, this will mentions all daughters except the oldest Phillipina. I've often suspected that Phillipina and Pheobe are one and the same and that maybe she was just Margaret's daughter prior to her marriage with Jacob.

Event: Type: Will proven
Date: 20 NOV 1820
Place: Bedford Co., PA

Will: Date: 19 OCT 1820

Note: VALENTINE 22 Sep 1879 Mr Frederick Valentine, aged citizen of this county for many years, died yesterday at the residence of Mr John Rice on Little Valley Road, 5 miles from the town. He was in the 98th year of life. Descendant children of 5 generations will attend his funeral. [Source:Cumberland Times]

This obit puts his birth date at 1781, not 1774.

Note: Arrived on the ship Bennet Galley 13 August 1750 along with Frederick Rice, Sr. and Jacob Reiss.

Source: (Individual)
Title: Pennsylvania German Pioneers
Author: Strassberger, R. B.
Publication: Picton Press. Camden, Maine. 1992.
Media: Book

Immigration: Date: 13 AUG 1750
Place: Philadelphia, PA; ship Bennet Galley

Note: Frederick Valentine
Maryland State Archives Microfilm W 871-872
Wills - Allegany County, Maryland
Liber A, Page 240 - 241

In the name of God, Amen, I Frederick Valentine of Allegany County in t
State of Maryland being very sick and weak in Health but of sound disposing
mind, memory and understanding considering the certainty of death and t
uncertainty of the time thereof and being desirous to settle my worldly affairs
and thereby being prepared to leave this world when it shall please God to call
me hence I do therefore make and publish this my last will and testament in the
manner and form following, that is to say First and principally I commit my soul
in the hands of Almighty God and my body to the Earth to be decently buried at
the direction of my Executors herein after named and after my death and funeral
charges are paid I devise and bequeath as follows
First I give and bequeath unto my wife Catherine one hundred & fifty
Dollars in money one bed one chest fifty yards of linen one cow and Kitchen
furniture Reasonable and sufficient for her use I also give and bequeath unto my
two grandchildren Deterick Rice and Anna Rice one hundred Dollars each. I give
and bequeath unto my daughter Christina Two hundred Dollars I give and bequeath
unto my daughter Susanna One hundred dollars I give and bequeath unto my
Grandchild Mary Long Fifty dollars. I also give and bequeath unto my s
Frederick the wagon and all the Horse gears also all the land belonging to my
old place a tract called part of resurvey of Gumbers Goodness containing by deed
thirty three and one half acres a tract called Stony Meadow by patent containing
thirty three acres a tract called Valentines Addition by Patent Sixty one & one
fourth acres a tract called Sugar Bottom by certificate six and one half
acres
I give and devise unto my son John all the land which I now own south of
the Stony Lick the tract caller Good Will containing by Patent thirty three
acres. Johns Addition by certificate twenty-six and one fourth acres Seass's
Amendment by certificate forty four Acres also a tract called Slippery Hill
And lastly I hereby constitute my sons John & Frederick to be the sole
Executors of this my last will and testament revoking and annulling all former
wills by me heretofore made ratifying and consigning this and none other to be
my last will & Testament In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and
affixed my seal this fifteenth day of April in the year of our Lord One Thousand
eight hundred and twenty five

Signed Sealed published & delivered Frederick (X his mark) Valentine
By Frederick Valentine the above testator
as and for his last will and testament in the
presence of us who at his request and in his presence and in the presence of
each other
have subscribed our names as Witnesses thereto
George Hoffman
Peter Baumward (in German)
John G. Hoffman



Allegany County to wit:
On the 13th day of September 1825 then came John Valentine and Frederick
Valentine and made oath on the Holy Evangley of Almighty God that the foregoing
instrument of writing is the true whole will and testament of Frederick
Valentine late of Allegany County deceased that hath come to their hands and
possession and that they do not know of any other
Test Charles Heck Register

Allegany County to wit:
On the 13th day of September 1825 then came George Hoffman and Peter Baumward?
Two of the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing last will and testament of
Frederick Valentine late of Allegany County deceased and made oath on the Holy
Evangely of Almighty God that they did see the testator therein named sign and
seal this will and that they heard him publish pronounce and declare the same to
be his last will and testament and that at the time of his so doing he was to
the best of their apprehensions of sound disposing mind memory and understanding
and that they together with John G. Hoffman the other subscribing witne
respectively subscribed their names as Witnesses to this will in the presence
and at the request of the testator and all in the presence of each
other
Sworn before Charles Heck Register

Event: Type: Will proven
Place: 13 Sept 1825

Event: Type: Will written
Place: 15 Apr 1825

Source: (Baptism)
Title: LDS
Publication: Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints, Family History Center.
Media: Microfilm

Source: (Birth)
Title: 1900 census

Data:
Text: Year: 1900; Census Place: Gross, Allegany, Maryland; Roll: T623 604; Page: 5A; Enumeration District: 115.

Source: (Name)
Title: obituary
Media: Book

Data:
Text: Nancy Stahl's obituary.

Source: (Birth)
Title: obituary
Media: Book

City: Moxham

City: Johnstown

Note: Solomon was married four times. So far I've found only these three wives. Hopefully I have the children assigned to the appropriate mother.

1850 Jenner Twp. Census record shows:

Solomon Horner, 48, Blacksmith,
Nancy Horner, 36
Christian Horner, 18, Blacksmith
Caroline Horner, 8
Isaiah Horner, 6
Daniel Horner, 4
Nathan Brubaker, 14
Amanda Horner, 2
Franklin Fleck, 10
Sophia Fleck, 8

Nathan Brubaker, Franklin & Sophia Fleck are obviously step-children; but I don't know which wife/wives they belong to.

Occupation: Place: Blacksmith

Note: died age 39 y, 9m, 24 d.

Gingerich & Kredier list a Veronica Blough (BL21b), daughter of Christian Blough and Sarah Cable, as married to Solomon Horner. No dates are given for either spouse in G &K, but the time period is right. Is this the same person? If so Christian is son of Jacob Blough & Anna Kaufman, Jacob son of Christian Blough and Elizabeth Gastelli. Anna Kaufman probably daughter of John, son of Issac and Anna Streit Kaufman.

Note: died aged 31 y, 1m, 19d

Note: Christian Horner was married in Stoystown, moved to Johnstown, and then moved back to Stoystown in 1849 where he remained until his death.

1850 Census - Jenner Township. page 188 family #83. Christian Horner, 72, Farmer, born in PA with wife Eve, 65, born in PA
1860 Census - Jenner twp., p. 224. Christian Horner, 83, farmer, born in PA, Eva, wife, age 77, born in PA.

Like others of his surname in the earlier generations of the family, Squire Horner was a prominent man in his community in his time. In 1809 Governor Snyder commissioned him Justice of the Peace, an office then of much dignity, carrying the title of "Squire", while the officer himself was generally regarded as the first man in the township. As justice of the peace he had jurisdiction over the large territory of Conemaugh township, which then included the present township of that name, the townships of Croyle, Summerhill, Jackson, Taylor, Yoder and Richland and trhe towns of Johnstown and Wilmore. This office he held until 1847, when he removed to Somerset county.

(Research):Source of birth and death dates is: Bell Patriots of PA, by Jack Horner Bell, 1980.

Note: I have conflicting birth places for Catherine. LDS film # 1903941 lists her as born in 1783 in Montgomery County, Ohio. while other researchers on-line list her as born in PA.

Note: On the 1796 Quemahoning Twp. tax assessment along with son Adam and brothers Daniel and Solomon.

The following is from Laurel Messenger - Feb. 1984. "The Horner Family History" by Jack Horner Bell.

1770, John Horner, Sr. and his six sons crossed the first chain of the Appalachians into Franklin (then Cumberland) County. Before, during, and after the Revolution, they amassed hundreds of acres in the fertile, idyllic valley near Waynesboro. The principal property was called "Hornhead" and is still farmed to this day.

He is found on the muster roll of Captain Thomas Wallaces company, Waynesboro, for the years 1789 and 1790, along with his son Adam.

By the time of the first census in 1790, John, Jr. had a family of 8 sons and 2 daughters, many of them fully grown. ...During the 1790's all the Horners, with the exception of Elias (John's brother), moved to Somerset County. John, Jr. settled the farthest north along the Conemaugh in a wilderness which later became Johnstown, Cambria county. He was a merchant and had a saw and grist mill. Excerpts from his ledger from 1796 to 1809 appear in Storey's "History of Cambria County."


The following is excerpted from Storey's 1906 "History of Cambria County", Jack Horner Bells's 1980 "Horner Patriots" and articles by Jack Horner Bell in the 'Laurel Messenger', the newsletter of the Somerset County Historical Society.

The first traces of the old patriarch, John Horner, Sr., or "Johannes Hanauer", are found in the early 1740's near Hanover, in Berwick Township, York Co. His sons were born as follows: John, abt 1743; Abraham, 1745; Solomon abt 1751; Frederick abt 1754; Daniel abt 1757; and Elias abt 1759.
There is no doubt that the "Johannes Hanauer" who married Susannah Dick in St.. Matthews Lutheran Church in Hanover, York County, on June 4, 1765, is John Horner, Jr. There are copies of York County deeds which transfer property back and forth between Adam Dick, Susanna's father, and John Horner, Jr. York County deed 2-E-203, September 7, 1770, transferred a plantation from Adam Dick to Jonas Wolf and John Horner, Jr., both of Berwick Township.. Then on April 24, 1786, York County deed 2-D-255 divides property in Berwick Township among the heirs of Adam Dick, with 1/6 going to Susanna, wife of John Horner.
The year 1770 was the period when the Horners left Berwick Township and moved across the first chain of mountains into Franklin (then Cumberland) County., which was the frontier. They, like everyone else, lived in log houses or cabins, and there were constant Indiana atrocities, burnings, killings, scalpings, and taking of captives. The Horner attended a segment of the German Baptist Church. The congregation for years "carried their guns regularly to church, stacked them by the door, and placed a sentinel by them to give the alarm, so that the men could rush to their arms."
During and after the Revolutionary war, the Horners prospered and multiplied. With the end of the war, peace had finally descended upon the Cumberland Valley, the menace of the Indians having receded. During the 1780's, the Horners continued to increase their land holdings, and in the latter half of the decade John Horner, Jr., increased the acreage of his esate, known as "Hornhead", located near Waynesboro and still farmed to this day.
During this time, the German religious sects had roving preachers whose circuits took them into the western wilds. Those "men of God" returned with stories of the vast areas of virgin timber and fertile ground just waiting to be taken. The sprit of adventure was aroused and more and more early Americans were packing up and moving westward
John Horner, Jr. had become a well-to-do man in the Cumberland Valley, however, he obviously had decided as early as 1796 to follow his eldest son, Adam, into "The Promised Land" of Somerset County because he began selling off his properties in Franklin County. On May 7, 1796, he and his wife, Susannah, sold "Hornhead" to Philip Hollinger for thirteen hundred pounds, an enormous amount of money in those days.
At the time of the first census in 1790, all the Horners were in Franklin County. John, Jr. had a family of eight sons and two daughters, many of them fully grown. Abraham had four sons and a daughter, and Solomon had seven children.
By the time of the second census in 1800, John, Sr. and all of his sons, with the exception of Elias, were living in Somerset County. The westward migration was made in several increments with one or more families moving every year or so. The same Conestoga wagons likely ferried back and forth, serving each contingent. Everything they needed had to be brought with them. Tools, cooking utensils, stoves, tables, chairs, beds and bedding, barrels of food, and needs for next years crops all had to be brought along. Anything forgotten or broken had to be improvised, borrowed from distant neighbors, or done without.
The Horners took the difficult northern route, northwest to Chambersburg, then along the Forbes Road, now US Route 30. This took them past Fort Loudon, McConnellsburg, Everett, Bedford, and Stoystown, where they split up and fanned outward, Abraham south to Brothersvalley Township, Daniel (who about 1805 would move to Ontario), Frederick, Solomon and John north to what was then all Quemahoning Township. Frederick's 50 acres was located in the area which became Jenners Township in 1811, and John, Jr. settled farthest north, on 200 acres in the northern valley of the Stonycreek River, which became part of Conemaugh Township in the new Cambria County.
Cambria County was created by the Act of March 26, 1804, from parts of Somerset, Bedford and Huntingdon counties. It's name is the old name for Wales, and many of the original settlers in the central part of the new county were Welsh. John Horner, Jr., was prominent enough to be named as one of the three men to accept the title for the land which was donated for the Court House.
The oldest title for land in what is now Cambria County, which was actually occupied and cultivated, is the Horner title, in the Seventh Ward (Hornerstown) of the city of Johnstown, extending into Dale Borough and Walnut Grove, then in Stonycreek Township. It is officially known as the "Adams Improvement, or the Mill Seat", or toherwise as the Peter Snyder survey, which became vested in John Horner in 1797.
Samuel and Solomon Adams and their sister Rachel occupied it about 1770. Samuel Adams was on his way from this land to the block house at Bedford when he was killed in the Indian duel at Sandy Run in 1771. Peter Snyder sold his warrant to Henry Hill on July 28, 1774, and on May 28, 1776, thrity-six days before the Declaration of Independence was proclaimed, the commonwealth issued a patent for it to Mr. Hill, who sold it to George Clymer. The title passed through several parties and became vested in Martin Reilly, who sold it to John Horner, June 3, 1797.

John Horner built a dwelling and storeroom near the Von Lunen road and Solomon's Run, and opened a store. About 1800 he erected a saw mill and grist mill on the run, ans also had some kind of a weaving mill connected with the enterprise. One of the rooms in the mill was used for pay schools during the winter season. In addition to the Snyder tract, he acquired other land contiguous, so that at his death he owned 478 acres, besides some lots, then in the village of Conemnaugh, which he had purchased from Joseph Johns.
John Horner died intestate at his residence, apparently in 1824. There is confusion because another John Horner recorded a will on March 29, 1814, which was probated April 12, 1814. Although his wife's name was also Susannah, he was illiterate, signing his will with an "X", and had four children under ten years of age in the 1810 census, who would receive their shares "as they come of age".
In 1825 the land was divided in partition proceedings and the estate settled. This land was divided in four parcels and described thus:

No. 1. Part of a tract called the Mill seat containing 140 acres 85 perches, adjoining lands of Peter Morgan, Joseph Harshberger, et al, and now in the possession of Jonas Horner. Value $9.95 per acre. Jonas Horner took this part at the valuation and paid the other heirs their share of the estate. All of this parcel lies south of what is now known as Messenger street, and southeast of Von Lunen road.

No. 2, contained 108 acres 116 perches and adjoined the lands of John Anderson and others, then in the possession of Jacob Horner. It is likely all of it lies north of Messenger street and extends to the Charles Campbell survey. It was valued at $6.62 per acre. Jacob Horner accepted this valuation and likewise paid the other heirs.

No. 3 contained about 150 acres and lay on both sides of Solomon's Run, adjoining the lands of Lewis Wissinger and others, then in the occupancy of Adam Horner, who took it at the appraised value of 50 cents per acre. It is in Stonycreek township.

No. 4 was a parcel held by improvements, containing eighty acres, situated on the Stonycreek river, adjoining the lands of Samuel Kuhns and others, the in the occupancy of Joseph Aish. It was valued at $15, and taken by Frederick Horner. It lies on the west side of the river, above the Moxham bridge.

Thus it will be observed that the three sons, Adam, Jacob and Jonas, became the owners of all the land on the east side of the Stonycreek river, which is now included in the Seventh ward, Dale, and Walnut Grove.

The Horner family rarely made wills. Occasionally the land has been divided by partition proceedings in court, but frequently the family did it by an amicable partition, giving deeds to each other, and in many instances did not record them, which omission makes a break in the paper chain of title.

Source: (Name)
Title: Laurel Messenger Newsletter
Author: Somerset Historical & Genealogical Society
Media: Book

Page: Feb. 1984
Data:
Text: The Horner Family History by Jack Horner Bell.

Occupation: Place: Merchant, Saw & Grist mill owner