Vicksburg.... Our beginnings...
Thomas and
Richard Penn secured the title of Buffalo Valley then Northumberland Co. on November 5, 1768 from the Native Americans.
Union Co. was formed out of Northumberland Co. March 22, 1813. Surveyors, William and Samuel McClay surveyed Union
Co. into individual lots of approximate 300 acres. Officers of the Pennsylvania Militia Regiment received Buffalo
Valley land for their military pay.
Captain Jacob Kern received 616.5
acres on June 15, 1774 and called it "Kernton" which 97 yrs. later would born a village to be named "Vicksburg".
On August 16, 1774 Captain Kern and his wife Ann sold "Kernton" to Jacob Mechlin, a yeoman and his wife Mary of
Berks Co, for four hundred and eighty pounds of lawful money. They in turn, on April 17, 1785 sold part of
the 616.5 acres to John Krider of Buffalo Valley containing 326 acres and 112 perches, together with all singular houses,
barns, stables, gardens, for the sum of two hundred and froty pounds. The following day, April 18th, 1785 John Kreider
sold a partial containing 150 acres and 17 perches to Philip VonNeida for the sum of three hundered and forty pounds.On
May 16, 1823 Philip sold part of his tract to his son Peter for $5,067. In December 1854 Peter sold to another son David part
of the 150 acres & 17 perches and son Peter Jr. received the rest when the estate was settled. Recorded March 7,
1866 David VonNeida sold 22 acres and 52 perches to Joseph S. Raudenbush. Recorded April 2, 1878.
Recorded December
3, 1801, John Crider, now spelled with C, and his wife Angelia sold the remaining part of his original 326 acres to Conrad
Reedy, a farmer of Buffalo Valley, Twp. containing 177 acres and 127 perches for the sum of eight hundred and fifty pounds.
May 27, 1801,
the executors of Jacob Mechlin Estate sold the remaining part of Capt. Kern's 616.5 acres containing 334 acres and 33 perches to
Daniel Sheckler for one thousand pounds. March 29, 1814, Daniel Sheckler and his wife Magdaline sold 160 acres and
127 perches to their son Tobias for the sum of $8000. On December 24, 1840 Daniel and his wife sold 160 acres and
33 perches to their son Adam for $4,806. Adam sold 90 acres to John Benner, April 1, 1854 for $8000.
Prior to 1865, the
roads between farms were "cowpaths". The Lewisburg-Youngstown (Mifflinburg) turnpike was open in 1829. It was paved in 1910.
In 1860 Charles Dreisbach, son of Martin Dreisbach, Jr. built the Great Western Hotel. The commercial activity of the hotel
drew the discerning eye of Joseph S. Raudenbush of White Sparing. In 1865 he opened a general store on the lot west of the
hotel. He is credited with the suggestion of naming "Vicksburg" after the Battle of Vicksburg.
