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Founders |
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Bellefonte was laid out in 1795 by James Dunlop and his son-in-law James Harris on what is known in the original survey as the "Griffeth Gibbon tract. These gentlemen were associated in the founding of the town in this way. The former settled in Bald Eagle township about 1794 when he purchased a part of the "Gibbon tract" of land. James Harris having married Dunlop's daughter in 1790 moved from his home at Mifflintown to what was then called Spring Creek, really the site of Bellefonte. The two men then set about laying out the town of Bellefonte. Harris had considerable knowledge of such ventures, since his father had founded Mifflintown. Col. Dunlop erected the first house which stood on the site now occupied by the Jacob Valentine residence, on the corner of High and Spring streets and the rear portion of which is standing there to-day. The original plat was laid out entirely upon the Griffeth Gibbon warrantee application of the 3rd of April 1760, No. 248, surveyed July 20th, 1769, owned by William Lamb, patented Feb. 5, l794 and conveyed to John Dunlop, Nov. 3rd 1797. The growing of the town has since made it necessary to include the William Moore warrant of Dec. 1st, 1772, surveyed May 29th, 1784 and patented to Col. Thomas Hartley and the William Sharon, Jr. application No. 2681, April 3rd 1769 and the James Sharon, No. 1923, of the same date. Both of these latter tracts were owned originally by William Lamb and were deeded to James Harris in 1797.
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James Dunlop |
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James Harris |
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