Wolff Sketch
Franklin County, Pennsylvania
Updated: February 4, 2022
General Information about the pages on this web site:
This web site contains eleven pages about the history and genealogy of the Oliver Anderson, Archibald McCullough, and William McCune Families from Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Oliver Anderson and William McCune Families are from an area known as the "Corner" located in Montgomery Township five miles southwest of Mercersburg, Pa. Archibald McCullough family is from the area known as the "Little Cove" in Warren Township near the village of Sylvan. Some members in the Archibald McCullough family spell their name as McCulloh.
Other prominent families on this web site are Clark, Dick, Folk, Phelps, & Humphreys which are all connected to the Oliver Anderson family and from Franklin County area.
Information about the Slate Hill Graveyard where Oliver Anderson and David Humphrey, Sr. are buried is included on this web site.
Information on this web site was collected from many sources and also includes much of the information from a book written by Mrs. Elizabeth Brubaker Wolff who was the compiler and author of the book titled "Early History and Genealogy of the Anderson-McCullough-McCune Families and Related Lines of Franklin County, Pa". Other prominent families in her book are Clark, Dick, Folk, Phelps, & Humphrey which are all connected to the Oliver Anderson family. The Wolff book includes data that was compiled up to the late 1950's and was distributed in 1963. Elizabeth also wrote a sketch named "Looking Backward" of the time she lived as a young person in the area known as the "Corner" located 5 miles southwest of Mercersburg, Montgomery Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania. It describes her memories and events of places and people living there in the late 1800's. Many of the ancestors in this genealogy once lived in this area of Pennsylvania. The sketch is also included on this web site.
The four family links below are the basic families to access their separate pages. Most pages also contain additional links to the other pages and to other sites with related family documents, pictures, and genealogy information. Information is sometimes presented as photographs and pdf files usually at bottom of pages.
All Related Lines on this Web Site:
Anderson Family Oliver Anderson (1742 - 1810)
McCullough/McCulloh Family Archibald McCullough
McCune Family William McCune (Abt 1712 - 1782)
Humphrey Family David Humphrey, Sr (1720 - 1795)
Wolff Sketch, (Written about the "Corner" Section in Montgomery Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania )
Mrs. Elizabeth Brubaker Wolff who was the compiler and author of the book titled "Early History and Genealogy of the Anderson-McCullough-McCune Families and Related Lines of Franklin County, Pa" also wrote a sketch that contains facts gleaned from her considerable historical research, information obtained from her parents, relatives, and friends and memories of events which occurred in her lifetime about people, places and events in late 1800's in a place known as "the Corner". The "Corner" is located approximately 5 miles southwest of Mercersburg in Montgomery Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania.
The Licking Creek referenced in the "Looking Backward" sketch starts on top of the "Cross Mountain" beyond the Punch Bowl in the "Corner" and winds it way eastward until it empties into the Conococheague Creek a short distance after it passes under the Witherspoon's "Red" Covered Bridge. (https://sites.google.com/site/andersonmillinpa/Home/witherspoonbridge). The Licking Creek is approximately 16 miles long as the crow flies from start to the Conococheague Creek. A small stream west of the Anderson homestead in the Corner starts on the North mountain. The stream passes between the Anderson house and barn and in earlier years was used to feed the Anderson pond in the meadow. The stream continues winding its way eastward about 1 mile where it empties into the Licking Creek. As the Licking Creek continues eastward the Blue Spring Creek also empties into the Licking Creek. The waters from both the Licking and Conococheague creeks are used to power the two turbines at the Irwinton/Anderson Grist Mill a short distance down stream.
Elizabeth Wolff obviously wrote and shared this document for all of us that may be interested in the Brubaker Family History and the history of Oliver Anderson and his descendants. Quite a few relatives still have original copies of this document. It was transcribed May 2006 by Ray Anderson basically keeping the text as it was written.
Sketch written by Elizabeth Brubaker Wolff
Looking Backward
The following sketch contains facts gleaned from considerable historical research, information obtained from my parents, relatives, and friends and memories of events which occurred in my lifetime.
I want to write first about the "Corner" Section in Montgomery Twp, Franklin County.
The "Corner" was so named from the contour of the mountains which enclosed or embraced a considerable portion of land given the above name.
Claylic Mountain, Kaisey's Knob and Two-Top Mountain on the South and Cross Mountain, connecting Cove Mountain on West, made up the ranges forming the "Corner".
The mountains in this section formed what was known as the "Punch Bowl". In Bates History 1887 it is described thus "in the Southwestern part of what is now Franklin County formed by Kittatinny (Cove Mountain) on the West, Cross Mountain on the South and Two-Top Mountain on the east lies a relic of the mythical days when giants piled Ossa on Pelion, and known as the Devils Punch Bowl. From its spacious receptacle the gods in their Bacchanalian revelry quaffed their intoxicating drink."
The Punch Bowl was well known by Corner residents and people of the vicinity went there for berry picking.
In this section a gap in the mountain known as Dunn's Gap passed over Kittatinny Mountain or Cove Mountain to the Little Cove.
The Corner road, too, passed over the same mountain and reached the Little Cove near Sylvan, Pa. A funeral passed over this road in the 90's carrying the body of Miss Elizabeth McCullough to the Cove for burial. The road was so steep descending the mountain some of the drivers fastened branches of trees to their vehicles to retard speed.
An old trail near the Samuel Anderson home, and known early as the Marshall Trail led over the mountain, giving a short route to residents of the vicinity. It is but a foot path and is thought to be an early Indian trail.
Kaiseys Knob was used as a signaling station during the Civil War.
Early, the Warm Spring Road was the great road, coming from the East passing through Williamson, Pa. on to Mercersburg and through the Corner, passing through Blair's Gap and to Berkeley Springs or Warm Springs, from which it takes its name. It was built in 1820.
The road most widely used today in that area is Buchanan Trail, which at Cove Gap passes near James Buchanan's birthplace, a log cabin. As a child, born in this mountain wilderness, a bell was fastened to his body to know his whereabouts. This road goes also to McConnellsburg, Pa. in the Big Cove.
Licking Creek is the largest stream flowing through the "Corner" in Montgomery Twp. It has its source in the mountain springs in the Corner. As we follow this stream we find much of interest. Emerging as a small stream, it widens and gains momentum as it flows through wooded section, meadow, and farm until it finally flows under the fastly disappearing covered bridge spanning the stream were it flows into the West branch of the Conococheague Creek, near Irwinton Mills, now belonging to Chester Anderson. In the early Spring a traveler may see along Licking Creek the beauty of the red bud and dogwood trees, also shad bush with its lace like flowers, which later on forms into a red berry, which is edible, called the June berry. Wild flowers, too, flourish along banks of Licking Creek. Dutchman's breeches, trout-lily, blood root, Johnny Jump Ups, Sweet myrrh and the sweet scented phlox. Although Licking Creek is but a small creek, in the rainy season it overflows its banks and roads and sometimes causes considerable damage. In the flood of 1889 Licking Creek became a raging torrent covering fields and roads and people living near the stream were compelled to find higher ground, for as long as the stream was high.
The farming land in the Corner was fertile mostly slate land and many Indian arrow points and flint stones were plowed up, showing that the Indians were numerous in that area. Several forts were erected in that section as a protection against the Indians. The Marshall Fort according to J. H. Brubaker was located across the road from the home of Wm. Marshall, which is still standing located along the road just beyond the Watson Rankin home. Mrs. John Anderson remembered being told that a woman was killed at this fort by an Indian while milking a cow.
In a Pennsylvania History Gordon, tells that in the fall of 1755 the country west of the Susquehanna had 3,000 men in it fit to bear arms and in 1756 not including the Provincial forces, there were not 100 left. The Indians were principally Shawnee and Tuscarora tribes. Hence the great need for the number of forts in Franklin County.
Schools in the early days, where readin' writin' and 'rithmetic were the main branches of studies, had school books which were well planned and the McGuffey Reader and others as well were made up of prose, from great literature and poems from great poets. Many of these engendered religious feeling and had a lasting effect on many pupils in later years.
Old Lafayette School stood at a sharp bend in the road leading to the Corner just a short distance east of the Johnson Rankin home. Some of the teachers in this school were Joshua Philips, father of the Philips brothers in Mercersburg. John Anderson, when he was called into the service of his country his sister Sarah substituted for him. J. H. Brubaker and perhaps many of his brothers and sisters attended the Old Lafayette School.
Another school further up in the Corner was the Deck School, which was located some distance above the Harvey Rankin home. It took its name from a family by name "Deck".
Many of the residents of the corner went to the Union School, located in the far Corner. Oliver Anderson, Sr. taught this school at one time. Church services were held in this school house early and later a church (Union) was built there. In the 90's Preacher Wolff was the minister, a native of Broadfording, Pa.
The new Lafayette was a little red school house a mile or so east of Old Lafayette.
In the year1890 there were perhaps 50 pupils attending the New Lafayette School. The older farm boys entered school in the late fall when work slackened up at home and started their studies for the winter months.
With one teacher for so many pupils no one pupil had too much attention and sometimes a good deal of foolishness went on.
The outstanding occasions in school life were the Singing Schools and spelling bees. These occasions brought out many people both young and old. The singing masters were Solomon Baughy and _? Smith. After these meetings were over the young swains would wait out side for their sweethearts and when they finally appeared they would reach out for their arm and off they would go, walking, buggy riding or perhaps on sleighs, all depending on the weather. On these occasions the school house would usually be crowded, people standing in the rear of the building. Occasionally the school would put on a play, a very silly, but a very funny one, especially to the children.
Sometimes, too, Sunday school would be held in the Lafayette School and Church Services. The writer remembers a church service when a United Presbyterian, Dr. McGill, preached on a Sunday afternoon. A woman with a small boy sat up front and the little boy proceeded to roll up a Sunday school paper in shape of trumpet and made a great noise blowing through it. His mother tried to hush him, but he continued and finally the minister turned to her and said graciously "he is enjoying himself".
One can recall the many teachers in the New Lafayette School Daniel Kline, stern and a good disciplinarian. Sometimes when he would leave the room for a time one could see him peering in the window with hands up on each side of face to better see what was going on inside, and woe to the pupils who were misbehaving as he looked in the window. He firmly believed in the old adage "spare the rod and spoil the child". Then there were Esli Myers, Blanche Hinkell, Sadie Kirk, Wm. McCullough, Lydia Work, Denton Brewer, Mary Brubaker. Some of the above taught summer school. Ida Fritz was one of these.
During a recess many years ago an occurrence took place at New Lafayette, which left an indelible impression on many of the real young children. A horrible looking man came staggering up toward the school house. We were sure it was Satan and children crawled under the desk to escape being seen. On he came but the older pupils looked and were not frightened at all. The children couldn't understand it, until the man took off his ugly face (the first mask we had ever seen) and we found the Devil was no other then Dave Studebaker, a pupil of the school. Some of the real early teachers of this school were Jacob Zuck & John Anderson.
Pupils attending new Lafayette along the 1880's and later were Studebakers, Kellers, Benedicts, Bohrers, Lawsons, Zucks, Fritzs, Millers, Brickers, Brubakers, McClellands, Rankins, Kittles, Horsts, Troglers, Klines, Linningers, Pittmans, Pines, Cautions, Martins, Rhoades, Hoffmans and others, Filers.
The little red schoolhouse was well known until the consolidated schools began to take over. The Lafayette School was typical of the one-room school house. Built of brick with three windows on each side of building none in rear or front. It had about 32 desks in room with 16 on each side and a good sized stove in center of room. Each seat was occupied by two persons, usually. The teacher's desk in front with benches on each end and a blackboard extending across the front wall. The rear door was flanked with hooks for wraps, a bench for water bucket, lunch baskets and a common drinking cup from which all the pupils quenched its thirst. The water was carried from a nearby spring on the Eliab Zuck yard and the pupils who were glad for a little respite from study willingly accepted the chore of carrying water for the school.
The games played at school during the recess period were great fun. Tinkley Over, Steal Sticks, Prisoners Base and Town Ball were the favored games.
One of the happenings at the Lafayette School and the community in general which brought a sadness to the people was the large delegation of residents who decided to go west and make their homes. Some also went for adventure. The meeting prior to their going was in the nature of a Singing School and it was a very sad meeting. Parting with friends many for the last time. This was in1890. The names of those who left the community were John A. Rhodes and family of 8 members, Jacob Miller and family of 5 members; to Lathrop, Missouri, John Everts and family of 3 members, and G M Brubaker, Merritt Fritz, John Secrist to Gun City, Mo., John Hawbaker to Herrington, Kansas; John Campbell to Atlantis, Iowa; Harry N Williams to Princeton, Illinois; Samuel K. Boyd to Valparaiso, Ind.
Each year in the "Corner" in the Spring or early Summer the young people, particularly looked forward to the Jewish peddler. He could be recognized at a distance for he carried on his back a large pack covered with an oilcloth and with strips of wide tape for shoulder straps. He was bent almost double with the weight of the pack. He had many miscellaneous articles in his pack, handkerchiefs, suspenders, tablecloths, garters, shoelaces, etc. Some of these Jews were well known in the community; Nathan Naaman & Goodman Coplin were two which we learned about the Jewish faith. One of them stayed overnight at the Winter’s home. In the evening he took out his phylactery fastened a boxlike affair to his forehead placed phylacteries on his arms and proceeded with his devotions standing before our family in the meantime.
The Sabbath was rigidly kept in some of the homes in the "Corner". Clothes for Sabbath wear were laid out on Saturday, shoes were shined also in preparation for the Sabbath. There was little visiting but Churchgoing was prevalent as were family worship and Bible reading. The minister was a frequent visitor in the home some times spending the night with his parishioners.
This sketch would not be complete without some notice of Blue Spring School and Sunday School. One or two of the early teachers were Sadie Grall and Charlotte Work. Mrs. John Anderson then Harriet Rasp attended this school, when she was 6 or 7 years of age. Moody Brubaker taught the Blue Springs School about the year 1888.
Blue Spring derived its name from a spring whose water was a beautiful shade of blue hard to define. Rocks and shrubbery surround it. The Blue Spring vicinity is largely along the mountain, once called Kittatinny Mountain more recently the Cove mountain, lying between the Blue Spring on this one side and the Little Cove on the opposite side. A considerable number of homes were built at the foot of the mountain, a stream flows the length of it, and one could scarcely find a more peaceful scene anywhere than the homes nestled against this mountain. The homes owned by these residents were Trayers, Karpers, Bossermans, Agnews, McCulloughs, Creagers, Works, Fosters, Millers, and Brinkleys.
The Sunday School with Mr. John McCullough as Supt. A F Slaymaker Assistant Supt.; Wm. Richey, Secretary and Treasurer, and James Patterson, Assistant Sec.
The Sunday School was held in the afternoon in the summer and was attended by residents from far and near. Sometimes the afternoons in summer were sweltering but the extreme heat did not deter folks from attending.
The Blue Spring picnic was one of the outstanding events in community and was held in some grove of trees not too distant from the Blue Spring School House. A large new tub was provided each year for lemonade. There was a long line of tables, which were laden down with delicious food. The women in the community vied with one another in the candy decorated cakes, wonderous to behold, cookies, pies, and what not to see who could bring out the most attractive tables. Usually there was a speaker for entertainment and sometimes a recitation humorous or serious was given. These yearly occasions were events long to be remembered. Altho the pupils of the Blue Spring Sunday School have been scattered far and wide the influence of Supt. & teachers will be felt through out life.
James Rankin was probably one of the earlier settlers in the Corner. The House of late Harvey Rankin and the Johnson Rankin home are still standing, and Johnson Rankin's daughter Elizabeth and niece Birdie, are still occupants of the Home. (1959 Elizabeth died Sept. of this year.)
A tract of land called called Todd's Plain was owned by Robert Parker, a Justice of Montgomery Twp., Franklin county. The land was sold to Parker by William Marshall.
Oliver Anderson bought land from Robert Parker in 1770.
"Carlisle - Quarter Sessions - Peters twp. later Montgomery Volume 3-4 P 90 Court House Chambersburg, 1770 Road by Wm. Marshal's House to strike the Maryland line (The Marshall house is still standing a short distance beyond the Johnson Rankin home.)"
There was a mill at the John Rhoads place. Here there are cross roads and at one time the place took the name of "Lowers Corner". The Lowers owned the farm called later, Maris Spring, well-known early by the Corner people. It is said a man by name of Will Roberts was accidentally killed at the Spring. Years ago it was almost surrounded by huge rocks. At one time David Humphrey owned the farm, which he purchased from Andrew Lower and Robert Lowers who sold to James Dodd, 1796-1798. Other owners Levi Kershner 1816, Adam Hoke 1829, David Troup, Jacob Kline 1858, Grove, Bosserman, Andrew, ???. Maris bought it and build a beautiful stone house, one of the most attractive in the twp.
The crossroads mentioned above, one led from Mercersburg on Warm Springs Road through Blair's Valley to the National Highway; one to the upper Corner and one to Claylick. In the early days Claylick Hall seemed to be an attraction. The young people would gather there on Sat. nights. There was also a general store there which exist today.
We left the Corner in 1893 going to a farm of 200 acres named "Avondale" a beautiful old brick house with 14 rooms; 5 of which Mrs. Wm. McCullough reserved for summer occupancy, if wanted.
I started to Mercersburg High School and my teachers were Miss Mary Patterson and Miss Rebecca Agnew. Later I had Professor Garns, Mrs. Sadie Parker and J. L. Finafrock, under whom I was graduated in 1898 the same year we removed to Waynesboro Pa.
Notes of Interest (probably written by Elizabeth Wolff)
School (early) in "Corner" by name of "Deck" called after a family of that name. Uncle Bob & the Mowrey girls attended this school. School made of logs burn to the ground.
Andrew Keefer lived in Corner Section as did the Hoeflichs.
There was a mill at John Rhoades. Aunt Ibby & Aunt Betty were living with the Andersons when Aunt Harriet and Uncle John were married - Minister Rev. Moorhead. Aunt Harriet attended Blue Springs School at the age of 6 or 7. Charlotte Work, teacher, Sadie Grall was another teacher there.
John Anderson, Justice of the Peace, studied dentistry with Dr. Grosh of Mercersburg Pa. Old home spun sheets made by Sally and Jemima Philips were sold at Will Stoners sale in Little Cove. At the McConnell Pottery in Mercersburg, could be seen 6 or 8 horse wagons with crocks piled high. One of the McC's was a painter of photographs. In St. Thomas 18 cradlers at one time cutting grain. Last three items from a talk at D. A. R. meeting by John L. Finafrock.
A second old school named Old Lafayette was near the Rankin home. J H Brubaker attended this school as a boy. His home was about a quarter mile from the school near Richey Store. New Lafayette replaced the old one at a nearby location.
End of Sketch
Version: 20060906
Note: One minor correction made September 22, 2019 - Changed "Duirin's Gap" to "Dunn's Gap" located at beginning of sketch.
Useful definitions:
Bacchanalia:
1. The ancient Roman festival in honor of Bacchus.
2. bacchanalia A riotous, boisterous, or drunken festivity; a revel
Pelion - as used in classic literature:
They threatened to make war with the gods in Olympus, and tried to set Mount Ossa on the top of Mount Olympus, and Mount Pelion on the top of Ossa, that they might scale heaven itself, and they would have done it too if they had been grown up, but Apollo, son of Leto, killed both of them, before they had got so much as a sign of hair upon their cheeks or chin
Contact Information: New information, corrections, and updates to this Genealogy and Web Site are welcome. If you have any information or questions please send email to: andersonmccullohmccunefcpa@gmail.com.
Related Web Site: (Anderson Mill, Hays Fording Double Arch Stone Bridge, the Witherspoon "Red" Covered Bridge, Irwinton Historic District and the Hays Bridge Historic District )
Web site Irwinton Mill (aka Anderson Mill) contains information and pictures of Irwinton Mill (aka Anderson Mill), the nearby Hays Fording Double Arch Stone Bridge, the Witherspoon "Red" Covered Bridge, working model of a northern grist mill and a working model of a southern grist mill. Site also contain information about the Irwinton Historic District and the Hays Bridge Historic District taken with permission from two National Register of Historic Places Registration Forms Information is generally about an area on or near Anderson Road and the Conococheague Creek in Montgomery Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania.
Related Pages and Web Sites:
Home Page (Anderson-McCullough-McCune Genealogy)
Archibald McCullough Family (aka McCulloh)
David Humphrey, Sr. Family (1720 - 1795)
Oliver Anderson Family 1742 -1810
William McCune Family (abt. 1712 - 1782)
Irwinton Mill (aka Anderson Mill)