Port Royal Times


Thursday, June 18, 1888


Tuscarora Valley Items




The old style of letter-writing beginning, “I take my pen in hand to let you know that I am well at present,” so I take my pen in hand to let you know some of the notable happenings in far famed Tuscarora, the most noticeable and surprising of which was a visit made by the aged mother of Dr. D. J. Beale, of Johnstown, to the homes of her niece, Mrs. M. A. Barnard, and of her nephew, Hon. J. D. Milliken, taking dinner with one and supper with the other, and returning to her home in the evening. Having expressed a wish to visit the home of her childhood, the old farm on which her grandfather died during the revolutionary war of disease contracted in the service, and the birthplace of uncles and brother and sister and which has not been owned outside the connection during all these years since 1764. Her son, James, with whom she has her home, cheerfully provided a conveyance, and in company with himself and daughter, Aunt Millie, took a ride of about nine miles, a journey which appears formidable when we consider that in a few days she will have completed the 87th year of her life. The old homestead farm is now in possession of her nephew, Hon. J. D. Milliken and during her visit this aged lady saw many heirlooms and relics of revolutionary and earlier days as well as of later times. She expressed herself as much gratified by her visit, and could not have been more pleased than those whom she visited. In a notice of Grandfather Burchfield’s birthday observance of the 18th of April, your correspondent omitted the following information which I give you now on account of the peculiarity of the figures: Born on the 18th of April, 1808, he was 80 years old on the 18th of April 1888.


Mrs. Joseph Owens, of Lewistown is visiting the scenes of her childhood. She is accompanied by her youngest daughter, Miss Kate. They are now sojourning with their cousin J. D. Milliken, and family, and propose visiting Aunt Millie Beale during the coming week.


Quite a number of Spruce Hill’s young ladies and gents participated in the entertainment at Academia on the evening of the 21st. Those among the scholars acquitted themselves very creditably.

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