The first settlement and improvement was made by James Wells, on Sec. 20, in 1822. Samuel Atchinson settled on
Sec. 17 the same year. Michael Brown in fall of 1824. Other early settlers were Reson Nighswonger, Asa Buffington,
James Ham and others. First white child born was Stephen Boniparte Wells. The first marriage was Eliza Brown to
James Medford, by Esq. Wells at the residence of her mother in 1826. First death was that of Michael Brown, in
the spring of 1826. First sermon was preached by Rev. John Medford, at the house of Rachel Brown, in 1827. First
Justice of the Peace was James Wells. First church was built in the village of Chambersburg, in the year 1832,
by the Methodist denomination. First school was taught by John Lyster, in 1830. First school house built was in
the village of Chambersburg, in the year 1838, previous to that time schools were taught in private houses. First
steam mill was built in 1839. Much of the surface of Chambersburg is broken by bluffs, though there are some fine
fertile bottom lands.
CHAMBERSBURG SUBSCRIBERS
|
NAME |
Residence |
Business |
Nativity |
When came to Co. |
| Appenheimer, Wm. | Sec. 20 | Farmer | Germany | 1859 |
| Brooks, Joab | Sec. 9 | Farmer | Pike Co., IL | 1832 |
| Brown, Joseph | Sec. 17 | Farmer | Virginia | 1824 |
| Colleps, Wm. | Sec. 29 | Farmer | New York | 1868 |
| Conklin, Roland | Chambersburg | Blacksmith | MA | 1840 |
| Conner, J. N. | Sec. 31 | Farmer | Kentucky | 1833 |
| Dennis, Hon. J. H | Sec. 9 | Farmer | Kentucky | 1847 |
| Dunn, G. H. | Sec. 5 | Farmer | Illinois | 1842 |
| Elledge, W. B. | Chambersburg | Miller | Indiana | 1833 |
| Ellis, Wm. F | Chambersburg | Constable | Ohio | 1857 |
| Gillis, Wm. | Sec. 17 | Farmer | Virginia | 1853 |
| Green, C. D. | Sec. 6 | Farmer | Kentucky | 1840 |
| Ham, Geo. W. | Sec. 17 | Farmer | Pike Co., IL | 1841 |
| Ham, Lewis | Sec. 20 | Farmer | Pike Co., IL | 1832 |
| Ham, Wm. | Sec. 20 | Farmer | Tennessee | 1830 |
| Hume, Jr. W. A. | Chambersburg | Farmer & Merchant | Pike Co., IL | 1834 |
| Klainlain, Andrew | Sec. 19 | Farmer | Germany | 1859 |
| Leahr, John | Sec. 30 | Farmer | Germany | 1857 |
| Loer, John | Chambersburg | Farmer | Ohio | 1839 |
| Mayo, John J | Sect. 30 | Farmer | Pike Co., IL | 1836 |
| Metz, Albert G. | Sec. 8 | Farmer | Pike Co., IL | 1850 |
| Metz, Henry | Sec. 8 | Farmer | Pike Co., IL | 1842 |
| Metz, J. F. | Chambersburg | Merchant | Virginia | 1837 |
| Metz, J. M. | Sec. 7 | Farmer | Ohio | 1839 |
| Metz, James L. | Chambersburg | Farmer & Merchant | Pike Co., IL | 1834 |
| Morris, John | Sec. 20 | Farmer | Kentucky | 1832 |
| Morris, W. W. | Sec. 20 | Farmer | Pike Co., IL | 1837 |
| Myers, August | Sec. 19 | Farmer | Germany | 1857 |
| Pool, J. S. | Sec. 7 | Farmer | Illinois | 1832 |
| Remington, Orson | Sec. 20 | Farmer | Ohio | 1835 |
| Reynolds, D. M. | .......... | Farmer | Pike Co., IL | 1849 |
| Riggs, Luther | Sec. 7 | Farmer | Kentucky | 1834 |
| Scanland, S. W. | Chambersburg | Physician | Kentucky | 1866 |
| Smith, Volentine | Sec. 30 | Farmer | Germany | 1855 |
| Smith, W. G. | Sec. 18 | Farmer | Kentucky | 1836 |
| Stenbaker, Elmer | Sec. 17 | Farmer | New Jersey | 1854 |
| Thompson, Geo. L | Chambersburg | Blacksmith | Kentucky | 1834 |
| Todd, Franklin | Sec. 29 | Farmer | Kentucky | 1832 |
| Turner, Harvey | Sec. 19 | Farmer | Ohio | 1855 |
| Wilson, B. | Chambersburg | Physician | Kentucky | 1853 |