left behind a small log house that the family lived in before building the permanent buildings. Hearing the stories of Indians in Penns Valley and Penns Creek, Christopher built an Indian fort that fortunately was never needed to right the Indians. In earlier years an Indian camp had been on his land around Elk Creek -- so he had reason to want protection for his family.

<< Page 1 | << Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 >>

Return to About Us page

Pioneer Families of Penns & Brush Valleys - Page 3

<< Page 1 | << Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 >>

Church and schools were very important in the new settlements. Haines Township saw its first school and church built at Wolf's Chapel in 1789. In Rebersburg, Anthony Bierly built the first church in about 1804. Prior to these churches, homes were used for services.

The Spangler family was one of the families that moved into Brush Valley. George Christian Spangler, my (fifth great) grandfather, came to America in 1749. He was married 6 years later to Anna Mary Kreider. Gthey settled in Moore Township, Northumberland County, where he owned 600 acres. In the next 20 years they would have 11 known children. Their 8 sons names and ages were; George Christian II (age 73), George Pepter, John Christopher (age 88), John Henry (age 84), John Michael (age 84), John George, John Jacob, and John (age 93). The sons used their middle names as 6 of them had the same first name John and 2 had the first name George.

(Some families would have daughters with the same names. It is an indication that the oldest had died before the second daughter carried the name. One family had three daughters with the same name which indicates that the two earlier daughters had died before the third daughter carried the same name.)

The oldest of the Spanger sons, Christian, had 10 children and settled in the area of Mifflinburg. John Henry had 9 children and settled in Sugar Valley. Christopher had 10 children and settled in Brush Valley east of Rebersburg where Sherman Haas lives now. A sister, Barbara Margaret, married Francis Gramley, had 10 children and also settled east of Rebersburg (across the valley from Christopher on what was the former Evan Homan farm.)

Christopher moved to Brush Valley in 1797. Squatters