> ----- Original Message ----- > From: <JKHouser84@aol.com> > Sent: Monday, February 19, 2001 10:01 PM > ================ > > Source: PACENTRE-L@rootsweb.com > > Subject: [PACENTRE] A Confederate Spy(?) in Centre County! > > > > > > Good evening, list, > > > > I recently found this very interesting article in an old newspaper at the > > Centre County Library. It concerns the experiences of some of my > relatives, > > the early Housers, and details the feelings in Houserville and Centre > County > > during the Civil War. > > > > I've reproduced the entire article below, and have added some notes at the > > end explaining who some of the key folks were who were named in the > article. > > > > I trust you will all enjoy this, and perhaps some of you may find a > > connection or two in it! If so, I would be most delighted to hear from > you. > > ===== > > >From the KEYSTONE GAZETTE of 11 Jul 1935: > > > > "HOUSERVILLE DURING CIVIL WAR PERIOD. > > > > "Dr. George P. Bible Writes Another Interesting History of That Section; > > Community Was Once Trade Center With Woolen Factory Most Important > Industry; > > Recounts Narrow Escape of Deserter From Southern Army From Lynching by > Centre > > County Mob. > > > > "For fifty years before the Civil War and a decade thereafter, Houserville > > was a trade centre of the smaller craft shop industries for a wide scope > of > > surrounding country. > > > > "Among the most important of these industries was the Houser woolen > factory. > > The last owner and operator was George Keller, who for forty years > maintained > > the high standard and excellent grade of goods established by the Houser > > operators. > > > > "When the writer's grandfather, Jacob Houser, Jr., took over the > management > > from his father, the pioneer founder of the first woolen factory in Centre > > County, he modernized it by installing new additional machinery: two large > > blanket looms, four cloth-weaving looms, carding and spinning machinery. > > > > "A number of 'wool wagons' were out collecting wool in most of the > counties > > in the western part of the state. Through Clearfield, Elk, Jefferson, and > > other adjacent lumbering counties, quantities of woolen blankets, yanrs > and > > carded rolls for home spinning found a ready market. At the same time the > > wholesale distributors in Baltimore and Philadelphia were clamoring for > more > > of the Houser factory goods. > > > > "Houserville, situated midway between Centre Furnace and Rock, where the > > General Benner Iron Works, forges, nail works, etc., were in full > operation, > > was the rendezvous for ironworkers, ore miners, charcoal burners, > teamsters, > > farmers, and factory-men. English, Irish, Scotch, and Germans met at the > > store and post office, a most convenient place to settle their > differences, > > with and without gloves. Among this exotic mixture were many skilled > > mechanics and craftsmen, some with a liberal education and wide > experience. > > > > "We wish to pay tribute to one native American, whose his(?) work was > carried > > on in the old woolen factory. For over sixty years the faithful service > of > > this skilled workman made possible the great demand for the famous Houser > > blankets, yarns, suitings, etc. The writer refers to 'Billy Hoy' as he is > > familiarly and affectionately known. Today, in the twilight glow of a > long > > and successful life, he lives in his home in Lemont, a well preserved man > at > > the ripe old age of more than ninety-four years. He worked for every > owner > > and operator from the early days of the writer's grandfather's management > to > > its closing days a few years ago under the ownership of George Keller. > > > > "Billy Hoy was a carding and spinning expert. For over sixty years he > walked > > to and fro with his hand on the spinning 'jenny' day in and day out, > months, > > years, with always a smile and never a word of complaint. I would not > dare > > surmise the miles he walked. We'll let Billy figure that out. He is a > great > > lover of music and a fiddler of no mean ability. He has always been a > most > > lovable character and we hope he may reach the century mark and more. > > > > "Christ Houser, nephew of Jacob Houser, was Postmaster and storekeeper, > and a > > most unique and interesting character, likeable in spite of his gruffness. > A > > Sunday-school teacher, judge-advocate on all subjects and pacifier of all > > differences, he was also an apt collector and dispenser of gossip. From > the > > women customers who, during the day brought their fresh eggs and butter in > > exchange for groceries, muslin, etc., Christ obtained considerable > > information on the 'goings-on' in the community. The women, however as > > shrewdly got the bit of gossip Christ had tucked up his sleeve and as > freely > > broadcasted it around at the quilting parties. Thus, when the usual crowd > > congregated at the store in the evening, Christ was well prepared to act > as > > arbitrator at all controversies. > > > > "During the 'seventies,' particularly following the centennial year of > 1876, > > there was a migratory movement to the Middle West from our state and > county. > > The Government Homestead Land Grants of Kansas and Nebraska were most > > promising and alluring. The rich and fertile prairie lands with abundant > > pasturage, the fine climate and clear blue skies appealed to the > pioneering > > spirit of many from this county, among them the Houser descendants. > Christ > > Houser left his store, his brother Mart left his wagon maker's shop, his > > other brother John his mountain farm near Pleasant Gap and all took up > land a > > short distance from Grand Island, Nebraska. No stones to pick, no > hillside > > plowing, it seemed a paradise. But several crops of grasshoppers, a > season > > or two of drought, a few sandstorms and a cyclone, and Christ and Mart > sold > > out to John and came back to Houserville where their lives were spent. > > John's descendants are among the prosperous and well known citizens of > that > > section of the state. [NOTE: This is in error. The brother who went with > > Christ and Mart, and who stayed in Nebraska, was William Houser, not > John.] > > > > "The Rebel Spy Lynching Episode. > > > > "It was during Civil War days when the souls of men were being tried in > the > > immense fires of passion and bitterness. The great social and political > > upheaval between the North and the South ran flood high, with suspicion > and > > hatred dividing families. It was a serious period even in the village of > > Houserville. It was a difficult task for one who was idle or not at the > > front in defense of his country to give a satisfactory alibi. > > > > "It was noon hour at the factory when a tall, slender, pox-marked, > pale-faced > > young man opened the door and inquired for the proprietor. > > > > "'I am the proprietor,' said my grandfather ('Uncle Jake' as he was > > familiarly called). 'What can I do for you?' > > > > "'I am a tailor by trade. I was informed you had a tailor shop in > connection > > with your factory,' the stranger hesitatingly replied. > > > > "His accent at once proclaimed him a southerner. > > > > "'What is your name? Where are you from and why aren't you in the > service?' > > continued 'Uncle Jake.' 'It appears to me this is the wrong time to be > > looking for work in the line of tailoring.' > > > > "'My name is Nick Warren.' His embarrassment was obvious. > > > > "'I worked in the government shops - tailoring - and - > > > > "'Uncle Jake,' said Bob, the English foreman, 'he's no tailor. He is > > probably a deserter or likely a rebel spy. He's from the South, that's > plain > > to be seen. Listen to his accent. If that isn't Virginia or N. Carolina > > I'll eat my hat.'" > > > > "A murmur arose among the other men, who always had respect for Bob's > > opinions. Uncle Jake, realizing that this was not the time to press the > > questioning of the tired, weary stranger and understanding the temper of > his > > men said, > > > > "'Now men, don't be unreasonable. This poor fellow is half starved and I > am > > going to take him up to the house for dinner.' > > > > "Eliza, his young widowed daughter, was housekeeper for 'Uncle Jake.' She > > greeted the stranger in her brusk but hospitable manner. 'Here is warm > > water, soap and towel. When you are ready we'll have dinner.' > > > > "When he was washed and combed he presented a more hopeful appearance. > > > > "'I guess you think you've gotten into a nest of Black Republicans and > > Copperhead Democrats?' remarked Eliza with a friendly laugh. 'Well, you > > have, for the county jail is full of both.' > > > > "A sickly smile played over Nicks face and he replied to all questions > very > > cautiously. > > > > "News of the presence of a 'rebel spy' at 'Uncle Jake's' factory spread > like > > wild fire throughout the country side that afternoon. The factory hands > > emphasized the fact that his speech betrayed him. He sure was from the > > South. Feeling ran high. > > > > "By evening a crowd of several hundred had gathered at the store. Men on > > horseback, in wagons and in buggies, came from all directions. As the > > excitement grew, they marched up to the home of 'Uncle Jake.' The house > was > > in darkness except for the faint glimmer of a tallow candle. Dark forms > > darted across the lawn. Strange, disguised faces peered in at the > windows. > > Groups of men, threatening, cursing, planning, demanded that the stranger > be > > delivered to them. Who was the bold leader to threaten or challenge the > > honorable Squire Houser? Not his own men. Certainly not. > > > > "While the mob was momentarily growing larger, and the voice of the leader > > more defiant, Eliza, whose sympathies had been aroused by the wan, > frightened > > face of Nick, was trying to hide him, first in the cellar, then in the > attic > > among the rolls of carpet and factory goods. Her fighting spirit stirred, > > she seized a shot gun and said to her father. > > > > "'I'll get that cowardly leader. Let me out.' > > > > "'Don't be foolish, daughter. If they were our men it would be different. > > I'll deal with them.' > > > > "'Produce the rebel, Uncle Jake. We want to hear what he has to say for > > himself.' > > > > "'We're going to hang the rebel. Get the rope boys,' another exclaimed. > > > > "'We're going to hang this bird, Squire Houser and we will not be > responsible > > for what may happen to your factory if you continue to defy us and hide > this > > skunk.' > > > > "Realizing that further delay might spell disaster, Uncle Jake appeared at > > the window and asked for a truce. > > > > "'Listen men. This young man is a deserter from the rebel army, a > deserter > > because his sympathies are with the Northern cause.' (Cries of coward and > > traitor from the mob). 'There are some of you fellows here tonight whose > > sympathies are decidedly with the South. Are you traitor? Some of you > have > > rejoiced over every time the rebels have won a victory over the Northern > > Army. Are you brave and patriotic sons of your country? Don't I know > you. > > Some of you have had your front teeth pulled to disqualify you for > service. > > Cowardly rascals, I shall see to it that you'll miss the next call to > > service. Will you now listen to Nick Warren in all fairness? > > > > "They agreed and Nick stood by 'Uncle Jake' at the open window. > > > > "'Ladies and gentleman (for I see there are some mothers and wives here), > ou > > ask me why if my sympathies are with the North, I do not enlist in the > Army > > of the North? I again ask you the same thing. Do you not think that it > > would be even harder for me, a Southerner, to enlist in your army than for > > you of the North to enlist in your own army? I have a dear old mother in > the > > South, a brother in the Confederate Army and a sister nursing and caring > for > > the wounded and dying ministering to the boys in blue as well and > impartially > > as to the boys in gray. Do you want me to take up arms against that > mother, > > sister, and brother?' > > > > "There was a moment of silence, then 'No, no' came the answer from the > crowd. > > Nick's pathetic appeal brought tears to many eyes and the mob dispersed. > > > > "Nick Warren for the next two months, demonstrated his ability as a > competent > > tailor, a fine organist, an actor, a card shark and a gambler with the > > manners of a cultured gentleman. At the end of three months he dropped > out > > of sight and the village of Houserville settled down once more into its > > regular routine." > > ======== > > NOTES: > > > > "Uncle Jake" was Jacob Houser (1795-1867), known affectionately as > > "Factoryman Jake" in the community. He was a son of the pioneer and ran > the > > factories at Houserville. He would have been close to 70 when these > events > > were going on. He is buried at Houserville. > > > > Eliza Houser (1830-1871), daughter of Jacob, was married to her cousin > Samuel > > Houser. He died in 1863, leaving her a widow, as she is named in the > > article. The events in the article, therefore, would have had to occur > after > > his death in 1863 and before the close of the war in 1865. > > > > The house where "Uncle Jake" lived is now abandoned. It is at the sharp > > L-curve in Trout Road in Houserville. I visited there with the Motters > and > > Joan Brooks this past fall, and found the house uninhabited. It had most > > recently been the home of Donald Coble (1909-1991) and his wife Eileen > > (1913-1997). More recently a niece, June Weaver, had been living there. > It > > had been built in 1830, and it was right beside the old mill race, traces > of > > which are still evident. At the time of my visit I never realized such an > > angry mob had gathered on that very lawn! > > > > Some of the Housers mentioned earlier in the article: > > "Christ Houser" - Christian B. Houser (1829-1906), buried in Houserville. > > "Mart Houser" - Martin Houser (1826-1881), buried in Houserville. > > "John Houser" - actually a reference to William Henry Harrison Houser > > (1843-1919), > > who died in Grand Island, Nebraska. > > These three were sons of Daniel Houser (1798-1878) and his wife, Mary > > (Schenck) Houser (1800-1879), thus being grandsons of Jacob and Barbara > > (Shirk) Houser. > > > > "Billy Hoy." This was William H. Hoy (1841-1936). He was a son of David > and > > Hannah (Gettig) Hoy. His wife, Eliza Moore (1844-1881), was a daughter of > > James and Barbara (Wirtz) Moore, a granddaughter of Jacob and Anna > (Houser) > > Wirtz, and consequently a great granddaughter of Jacob and Barbara (Shirk) > > Houser. > > > > I still don't know who "Bob" was who worked in the shop. It might be > Robert > > Kendall (1819-1883), who was married to Sarah Houser (1820-1888), and > > consequently a son in law of Jacob Houser (1795-1867). But that is pure > > speculation at this point. > > > > Dr. George P. Bible, writer of the article, was a son of William and > Barbara > > (Houser) Bible, and lived -- at least for a while -- in Philadelphia. His > > father was killed on the Potomac Creek in Spottsylvania County, Virginia, > on > > 10 May 1863. His mother then remarried to William Coble, and died in 1912 > at > > the age of 84. She and her second husband are buried at Houserville. > > ==== > > Justin > > > > Justin Kirk Houser > > Genealogist/Researcher of Central PA and Beyond > > Main Lines: Houser, Breon, Shawley, Ranio (and others) > > President, BAHS Class of 2003 > > Listowner, PACENTRE-L@Rootsweb.com > > Historian, Schürch Association of North America (specialty Central PA > lines) > > Member, Valley View United Methodist Church > > "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" >