Ligonier "Echo" issue of 14 September 1892, p. 1:

Old-time Recollections.

No. LV.

Mr. Editor: In reference to the early settlers of this lower end of the valley, I think they were mostly Scotch-Irish from Cumberland county, Eastern Penna. I can remember very nearly all were Presbyterians and Seceders, and no other established denomination. The M.E. commenced in Ligonier town and at Abel Fisher's two miles west, early in the thirties, but I never mind of the preaching below town, but it seems they did up valley. I never knew of a Catholic in the region, till early in the thirties, a Steward family rented, and moved on the Hermitage, but did not stay there long, as they knew little of farming, only with spade, mattock and shovel, were very poor at handling horses. All the people knew of Catholics was the horrid stories brought from the canal making, and of their system of "shallalying protestants to the death," but we were surprised to find this family clever, and good neighbors, and good debaters at society. There was no church of the denomination until very recent years. The Beardy Myers and Henry Beam families were all the Germans I remember in that region, but many up the valley, also the Keffers and Glessingers, but they were about as much English as German, and could talk English very well. Germans may be classed, as Penna. Glade, or Somerset county, and foreign, with many characteristics worthy of notice, and much like the Scotchman, that the eminent Joe Cook, D.D., says when you find him "he is there and hard to move." If you reason with them, and convince them, it is doubtful if they will change to your views. You must be careful in asking questions, if not proper or agreeable you get only a blanching look, and no answer. Also be careful in giving advice, unless they ask for it, which they seldom do, and as for ordering them, will not do at all. Rev. Dr. Donaldson tells of a German blacksmith on the place of Rev. Hill, and the old gent was careful in having his fine riding horse well shod, and he complained to "county wag" of the preacher giving "too much order." The wag told him to put shoes wrong end foremost, and he did, and when the horse was brought back to be righted, said, "I not understand English good, and when you want horse shod, just tell me you want him shod, no more, and I make no mistake."

The country around Mt. Pleasant is settled with the best class of Penna. Germans. They are a lively industrious people, no "dead heads or shirks" among them. They have a good honest systems of business, prompt pay and fast friends if they find you honest, and true in dealings, but look out if you are not so. It has been said they do not endure jokes or puns, but if they come handy and fit good, and not far fetched and studied up, they will be pleased to meet or hear them. I think it one reason a certain doctor secured a very extensive practice among them in preference to another doctor well read and well equipped in the profession, and could talk their language well, as he was often ready with a stroke of wit to suit them, and they thought him no novice. He was also what might be said a silent doctor and never attempted to show of his knowledge or learning, by much explanation, that mostly does harm. He would examine carefully, and ask some questions, but never twice the same, as many do, and then prepare the medicine and tell him what to do, and say no more. I do not mean they have no faults, but perhaps as few as any people you find.

I have been mentioning some intermarriages of the valley, and Mt. Pleasant country. While I am on the subject, I will enlarge on some more, but first say that I meant this young gent from here, is a grand son of the Mr. Shup who married a Rhodman, and I might also say, that Mr. Shupe left a fine estate, a farm included, that has become very valuable by supplying coal for the coke business, and with milling the Mullen family have enlarged finely on the original estate, and no doubt now possess much wealth, and best of all religion with it also. For what will it profit, to gain the whole world and lose the soul? Also of intermarriages of same regions, will mention two doctors, and their young sister, among the high order of Germans, for there are aristocrats among the Penna. Germans. The one brother and sister in the Sallenberger family, the other in the Lobingiers. The mother of the first named, was of the Newmyers. Early settlers of Fayette county and noted as 'Squires from grandfather to Capt. George the grandson, that served in the army, and since moved to Nebraska, and perhaps in the same office yet, also in legislature several terms. Abraham Shallenberger was a long notedly fine citizen of Mt. Pleasant; carried on the saddling and harness business in the most industrious manner, and a very honest worker, and trained all the boys to the same, but also gave them good education in the schools and academies, so if they wished, they could give attention to other business, which they did to some extent. One became an M.D. and one in charge of high school for many years, and one member of congress several terms, and now with other brothers in banking business. After the family had left and doing for themselves, he, the old gent, also moved to Rochester where many lived, and went into a good business, and light work with a son, and died some years ago on his way home from church, at a good old age, as a "shock of corn fully ripe," for a mansion above. Also leaving an estate of some $3,000 to each member of family, of eight to ten in number. More recently the old lady also died, but I think the family are all living but one son lost in the army, where two had served; also the youngest child when small. The Newmyers and Shallenbergers were baptists of good christian character.

The doctor's wife of this family was small in stature, as often large men choose small women, but was magnificently large as a housewife and to manage a family. She was no gossip, and could be entirely silent or quiet, when not needed to talk, said nothing but what she meant, and that required to be strictly heeded. The sister's husband in early life learned the mercantile business with the eminent merchant, John Lloyd, and followed it most all his life. Of this we have already written, in connection with the family history. The Lobingiers, progenitors of the other doctor's wife, were a prominent family in the early history of the country, and originated from Lancaster and Dauphin counties and first settled, and built the furnace at foot of Laurel Hill that afterwards became California furnace, and finally traded it to the man, owning it afterwards, for ten farms on this Mt. Pleasant ride of the Ridge, that the coke business in late times rendered immensely valuable, but much of it had gone out of their possession before this great rise of the real estate. I will finish what I have to say on this subject in a following number.

A NEIGHBOR.

Ligonier "Echo" issue of 21 September 1892, p. 1:

Old-time Recollections.

No. LVI.

Mr. Editor: It may be interesting to write briefly of the grandparents of the other doctor's wife in the Mt. Pleasant country, as residents and business men early in the history of the valley. Judge John Lobengier as partner with his father Christopher Lobengier, during the last third of last century, built and had in operation the furnace, at foot of Laurel Hill, afterwards called California furnace, with some two or three others in various parts of the country. They traded the first named for ten farms on western side of Ridge, and on one large tract, the son Judge built two flouring mills, one mile apart, erected a hotel, and otherwise extensively improved the property, on the Jacobs Creek, one mill and house being of fine dressed mountain stone. Much of this land, west of Ridge traded for, became immensely valuable in later times in the coke business, but before this time some of it was sold or traded out of the name, to other parties. The family consisted of 4 sons and 6 or 7 daughters. J. Lobingier, Jr., was parents of the doctor's wife whose mother was of a Smith family, pioneer settlers, on large tract of excellent land in Unity township. I think the oldest son of this pioneer gent, that with farming combined furniture and coffin making the only one known in those times in all the country round. This son Jacob Smith whose wife was sister of Daniel Bonbrigh long time an eminent merchant of Youngstown, combined the mercantile business with farming, and stock dealing, and droving east of mountains in Pa., and in much of this lateral business, as partner with Col. Ramsey of Ligonier, who was similarly situated in the same variety of business. This grandfather of the doctor's wife died young of consumption, leaving two sons and two daughters, and after wife and widow was provided for, each heir was left $5,000. Why he prospered better in business than Col. Ramsey who failed, might be an interesting thing to solve, as Col. Ramsey was a man of very eminent ability, there was no question, stout robust, and of great energy. One thing may be mentioned Col. Ramsey's father was partner, and had the charge of business in the store, while the son was occupied outside, and this old gent was struck down rather early in life with apoplexy, and this business inside may not have been in as safe hands afterwards. My aged aunt told me she remembers her mother telling of coming ten miles to this store to trade, and spoke so highly of the old gent, in charge of the store. Mr. Smith had his brother-in-law Daniel Bonbright in charge of his store and a gentleman of sterling integrity of character, and before he commenced in business for himself in Youngstown. In my time I have often learned of very good business men to fail, and public fame charged it on dishonest clerks, so that business men like R.R. and street cars systems have need to be very careful in looking closely after their business.

Judge Lobingier was long time justice of the peace at the Laurelville establishment, as also associate judge of the county. His father also was high in State and U.S. offices. He was notedly useful in court as a German scholar, to hear witnesses in their own language and then interpret to the court, which he did in few words, and so correctly that German lawyers never challenged or corrected. When a student at Greensburg Academy it was a fine mental exercise, to often hurry to court in the afternoons to hear, and see witnesses rattling off their Dutch, to the old Judge on the bench, sitting so gravely giving strict attention, and occasionally asking a question in German, that would start them off on another rattle, and when through give the court the substance of testimony in few words, also to hear the Hon. Richard Coulter plead in court, was a fine lesson on elocution. When commencing he would move off very slowly, and pick up his note paper, and lay it down again, for a few times, but when fairly started took no further notice of notes, but rain down his arguments in a ringing musical voice, to thrill every one in hearing, and to such a degree as was truly seldom met with in any other place, or court in the State of Pa. Judge Lobingier was of large frame and commanding appearance, and always enjoyed good health, lived to the age of 92, and was in possession of much wealth. After abandoning the iron business he gave full attention the milling hotel, and also salt manufactory on the Seweakly creek; at one time very extensive.

I must yet mention about the other transmountain marriages. The first was a doctor of the valley taking a wife of a conveneter family nearly at the other side of the county, and so well raised in that denomination as to turn out a good wife for a presbyterian, that served one term in General Assembly at St. Lewis, and also went on to view the Rocky mountains. She is not stout, but has already outlived the "maternal side of the house" perhaps because she has a doctor to take skillful care of her. The next marriage was the sister of this doctor many years previously I will mention which was into the Bell family of Derry town and township, and notedly a substantial family of that region of country. This remnant with nearly all the others have made removes until it would be hard to find them. But this family of the good old name John, is living in Neb. where two sons are among the noted bankers of good wealth in two county towns adjoining. Think I have already written of them, and will say no more now. The next to mention was an excellent young man of the Shoup nation in Mt. Pleasant country, that went down to the Pollock nation and claimed a wife, that was a great-granddaughter of Hon. James Pollock pioneer settler in the valley and are now living away back in S.W. part of Ohio.

A NEIGHBOR