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Millheim
History of Centre and Clinton Counties, John B Linn, 1883, page 380-382
"This town was laid out by Philip Gunkle, who, Nov. 1, 1797, bought eight acres and twenty-six perches of the Frederick Uberlin warrantee of Michael Gunkle, and laid out part of the town thereon. The main portion is upon the John Cash warrant, which was sold by David Shakespeare to Michael Gunkle, also Dec. 3, 1794. The western end is on the John Harris warrant for twenty-eight acres and one hundred and fifteen perches. A deed was executed by Adam Kreamer to Philip Gunkle, Feb. 21, 1800. At the time (1798) there were two mills, -the old Hubler mill, which stood near D. A. Musser's present residence, and the Gunkle mill, site of D. A. Musser's mill. This fact suggested the name Millheim ("home of the mills").
The earliest separate list of its inhabitants is that of 1802 : Bressler, Michael, tailor; Confer, Adam; Crotzer, John, Sr.; Crotzer, John, Jr.; Danneker, Peter; Hess, Samuel; Killinger, Jacob; Loyer, George; Shaffer, Jacob, wagon-maker; Shaeffer, Michael (tavern in 1806); Smith, Adams; Smith, Charles; Stephens, Leonard; Wise, Henry.
In 1810 there were the following additional residents in Millheim:
Baughman, Paul, shoemaker, Betz, John, joiner, Breyfogle, Jacob, Buth, widow Felter, Andrew, tailor, Goodwin, Benjamin, tavern, Jones, John, tanner, Kreamer, Michael, saddler, Meese, Christian, Shaffer, Henry, cooper, Shreffler, Charles, blue dyer, Straw, Frederick, Troutman, John, Weaver, George, mailer, Wentzel, John, Westhover, William, physician
From Maynard's "Industries of Centre County" we learn that Benjamin and Henry Lees formerly had a store in the building occupied by Elisha Campbell. A school-house for German scholars occupied the site of Snooks' store, and an English school-house stood where the United Brethren Church now stands. The earliest dwellings were on the site of Jacob Gephart's residence, Daniel Reighard's house (the one now occupied by the post-office), and John Keene's house. In 1812 a company was organized in Millheim and its neighborhood. Philip Gunkle was first chosen captain, but declined, and Capt. Kleckner was chosen in his stead; John Jones was first lieutenant, and Daniel Lutz ensign. The names of the privates have not been preserved. Among them were John Shaw, Joseph Reighard, Charles Schreffler, Charles Fryer, who is said to have been the last survivor, and died in 1879. Their dress was blue coats with red trimmings, and buff vests, high boots, and cockades. This company marched to Erie early in September, 1812, and thence to Black Rock. They were under the command of a Gen. Smythe, who failed as an officer, and the militia came off without being discharged early in December, and with such speed that they were stigmatized years afterwards as "the Black Rock Racers."
Among more recent inhabitants were Jacob and John Harter. Jacob Harter was a justice of the peace for many years, and died at the age of ninety one years. John Harter, a wagon-maker, served his apprenticeship at Bellefonte, and then entered the employ of Jacob Shaffer, at Millheim. He has reached the age of eighty-nine, and had a family of ten children. One of his daughters married J. R. Purman, of Chester County, father of Hon. W. J. Purman, late member of Congress from Florida.
In 1820 a lot had been donated for school purposes by James Duncan on which a log school-house was erected. In 1857 a town hall was erected by subscription upon this lot. It is of two stories, the lower used for school purposes and the upper by the town authorities. The postmasters of the place have been Daniel Keen, Jacob Bollinger, James J. Redgers, M. N. Roush, W. S. Harter, W. C. Duncan ; 1853, W. L. Musser, William Thompson, D. A. Ruhl. Samuel L. Musser is the present incumbent.
Dr. Israel Biglow practiced medicine in Millheim, succeeding Dr. Westhover. In 1837, Dr. Biglow removed to Punxatawney. After him came Dr. R. A. Vanvalzah, who removed to Spring Mills. Dr. P. T. Musser succeeded him, but removed to Aaronsburg. Dr. J. P. Kryder succeeded Dr. Musser, but removed to Ohio in 1875; then came Dr. Stam, who remained but a short time. D. G. Mingle, M.D., a graduate of Jefferson College, is the present physician resident at Millheim.
The Millheim Hotel was kept as early m 1806 by Michael Shaeffer. He was succeeded by John Goldman, the latter by Frederick Mockley. Jacob Wertner kept in 1844. In 1856, William L. Musser became landlord, and has been succeeded by his son, W. S. Musser.
The site of Jonathan Kreamer's hotel was occupied by a log tavern built by Jacob Schwentzel. This building was burned. After some time John Lash bought the lot and built a commodious hotel. W. C. Duncan purchased it, and made a private residence of it, but it was again turned into a hotel by Tobias Wetzel.
Of the earliest stores was that of Keen & Mussina. Jacob Bollinger had a store upon the site of the printing-office, and was the first postmaster. James James was also a store-keeper in Millheim, and John Toner erected a store building where Mr. Stam is now located. Among succeeding merchants were William Roush, Peter Fisher, George Roush, and William C. Duncan, now a resident of Lewisburg.
In 1826, Michael Gephart, of Union County, located at Millheim. Michael died in 1873. His children are Jacob and J. P. Gephart, Esq., late member of the Legislature.
D. A. Musser, Esq., former county treasurer, son of Philip B., and grandson of Sebastian Musser, is a prominent resident of Millheim, and served one term as county treasurer. The Millheim Journal is noticed in the general history, under the year 1827. The Millheim Marble-Works were established by Mr. Deininger in 1843. B. O. Deininger and A. C. Musser carry them on at present.
The Millheim Banking Company was established March 15, 1872, by John C. Motz, John Keen, and Elias Kreamer, under the firm-name of John C. Motz & Co. John C. Motz was chosen president, and A. Walter cashier. Feb. 1, 1878, the capital was increased, as also was the number of stockholders. They effected a reorganization by the election of David Krape as president, J. H. Reifsnyder vice-president, and A. Walter cashier, and changed their firm-name to that used at, present.
Evangelical Association.-The organization of this body dates back to the year 1806, at which time a class was formed by Paul Bachman, Abraham Ream, David Mark, and George Swartz. Meetings were held for a number of years in the barn of the latter. In 1814 a camp-meeting was held on the same ground. Services were conducted in private houses also, and up to 1841 they made use occasionally of the old school-house which stood on the site of the town-hall. In that year the present church was built, the ground having been donated by James Duncan. Those who joined the association in later years were the Harters, Deiningers, Kreamers, Gepharts, Hostermans, and Motzes.
Methodist Church.-The Methodists had no regular organization until about 1840, at which time they worshiped in the Evangelical Church, under an agreement to conduct their services so as not to interfere with those of the Evangelicals. It is not positively known who founded the Methodist body at Millheim, but it is generally credited to a Mr. Bachman, who was a pioneer itinerant preacher, and very zealous in his gospel duties.
The present Methodist Church, which is of brick, was built in 1856. The present pastor is J. B. Akers, with residence at Penn Hall, Gregg township.
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