In cemetery near Shady Grove are found the following:

Col. Thomas Johnson, died in 1819, aged seventy-five years;
Martha Beatty, consort, died in Aug., 1811
Eliza M. Lanahan, daughter of Thomas Johnson, died aged fifty-eight years.
Joseph Cooke, died Feb. 5, 1804, aged eighty-two years.
James Johnson, born in north of Ireland, died in 1765. 
    From documents in the possession of his descendents, he settled in Antrim Township in the early part of the year 1735.  There are some evidences indicating that he was the first white settler in the township.  In time, however, he would have preceded those mentioned above by a few months. 

Add to these the account of the interments in Mossy Spring Cemetery, given in the account of Greencastle, and it makes a full account of necrology of the early settlers.

LIST OF TAXABLES - 1786.

     The earliest records accessible, of those who were here in 1786, are furnished in the list of taxables for that year, in Antrim Township with its present boundaries, including the borough of Greencastle.

EARLY SETTLEMENTS.

     The Kennedy Settlement in Antrim Township was made between the years 1755 and 1760.
John Kennedy, a native of Lancaster County, came to the confluence of the East and the West Conococheague, in the southwest part of Antrim Township, and located on 700 acres of land, the first tract being bottom land extending a mile and a half in length along the creeks.  Contrary to the general principle that the early settlers locate on the uplands, and hence on the poorest land, he chose the lowland because of the superior fishing qualities it possessed.  This tract he obtained from an old Indian chief, Cornplanter, with whom he lived in the most pleasing friendship for a quarter of a century, the old chief having pitched his wigwam at the junction of the stream on account of its easy approach to the haunts of the finny tribes.  Subsequently John was joined by his brother David, who, being a bachelor, lived with John in a hut located 100 yards south between the house now occupied Lazarus Kennedy and the creek.  John had a son, David, and two daughters, Ellen (subsequently married to Joseph Lowry, who lived near to Upton), and Mary (married to George Eaker).  David, the son, inherited all the farm, and became a boatman on the creek between the confluence and the Potomac at Georgetown and Alexandria.  He married Mary Robinson, daughter of Francis Robinson who lived across the creek in what is now Montgomery Township.  From this union sprang three children - one son, Lazarus, and two daughters, Harriet and Charlotte.  It is claimed that the same Indians who murdered Enoch Brown and is faithful pupils, wounded old John Kennedy  He was out hunting his horses which were found grazing in the creek bottom about a mile from his home when he was attacked by a party of Indians.  They killed the horse he rode, and wounded him in the right thigh and shoulder.  Being a good marksman, he continued to retreat and fire upon them until he reached a bushy oak tree that had fallen down into Rush Run, in the top of which he secreted himself till nightfall, when he ventured forth and crept away to Cross' Fort, distant about a mile from the tree top, where he remained about six weeks away from his family.  Finally, Cornplanter sought him out, and hearing his story, went in pursuit of the desperadoes and chased them into the mountains.  The 199 acres lying at the north end of the track, on which Lazarus Kennedy is now living, have remained in the possession of the Kennedys since the first settlement by John.  Near neighbors and early settlers were the Allisons and Henry Pawling at Greencastle; the McCulloughs and Beards near Upton; the Davises near Welsh Run; Adam Armstrong, Richard Gabriel.
     About the close of the last century John Kennedy attempted to establish a village at the confluence of the two Conococheagues, on the south side of the main stream, but the enterprise was soon given up and the town plat vacated.  It is now known as the Kennedy farm.  It was here the first and only attempt in the county was made to transport merchandise by water.
     In 1772 John Crunkelton laid out a town on the road from "Conococheague a settlement," (which afterward became Greencastle) toward Waynesboro, about two miles east of Greencastle.  He named the town "Crunkleton."  Several lots were sold, three houses built and a tavern, by George Clark; another, a store, by John Lawrence.  This was the maximum of the town's growth.  Two of the houses were moved away and the place became a part of Benjamin Snively's farm.  There is no mark now left, except one house, to indicate it ever was a village.
     David Brown, who settled in Antrim Township, probably where Brown's mill now is, in 1769, came on a trip through what is now Franklin County.  He kept a diary of his trip, and we extract from it that portion referring to the county.  It is what he saw and what he wrote down, dated Apr. 26, 1769.  We apprehend that nothing in this book will be read and pondered with more interest than these words form Mr. Brown just as he wrote them:
     "After which we crossed Yellow Breeches (when seldom rise much,) and went up the creek to Moris's works, which consisted of one furnace and a forge, with five fires and 2 hammers, that were all worked by a spring, the head of which was not above fifty rod distance, being the largest spring and the best works I ever saw - and form thence to Fultons in Carlyle and lodged - had good entertainment (but the town is inferior to York both as to size to situation) had an agreeable conference with Col. Armstrong, &c.
     "27th.  Set out a half after 11 for a miller and went to Laughlins mill on the great spring - there met Lyon on the road, and on enquiry found he was the man we were looking for.  From thence went up the Spring by R. Whisbeys mill, at which we stopped and reviewed it - thence up to Barritz's Tavern on the road and fed - went to Wm. Ripleys on the run at Shippenstown.
     "28th.  Sett off and went to Baineys and fed; from thence across Coneygogig to Chamberstown, where there is a mill on a large spring with about thirty feet fall right down into the east Conegogig - went up the road, then turned and crossed Conogegig again on Adam Hoopers place, a little above Jacks mill and went to Samuel Moorheads, where we dined and fed with great welcome without pay - thence went across the woods into Loudon road and up to James Campbells at a large stone house, about four miles from Loudon, where we saw three young bears, that were lately caught by a wagoner who lived down by Brandywine and was carrying them down - thence up across the west Conogogig to Rowland Harris's in the gap; lodged all night.
     "29th.  Went to Allen Browns to breakfast, then turned to the left hand up the mountain to a large body of iron ore, and saw about 10 dear in the woods; then turned down to the road again and went to the foot of Tus Krora (Parnell's nob) mountain to the sleeping place, where we saw six waggons going to Pittsburg; went to Mr. Elliotts, staid all Day - walked to his mill and to a large rich bottom along the creek, part of which he has cleared."
     David Brown was the grandfather of Capt. James Brown.  A note from Genl. C. T. Campbell, of Scotland, Dak., says:  "I think his remains are in the old Brown graveyard, where my grandfather Poe was also buried.

BOROUGH AND VILLAGES.

     The borough and villages in the township are Greencastle, Shady Grove, Wingerton, Middleburg, Brown's Mills and South Pennsylvania Junction.

     Shady Grove was one of the early settlements in the county.  The first to come here were the Johnstons, Gordons and Snivelys, 1734-35.  They came in about the order following:  A. Gordon, Jacob Lay, Abraham Unger, M. Snively, Henry Ditch, John and Henry Baltzley, Samuel Fisher and Henry Grove.  A good portion of the land is held by the descendants of those who originally purchased it.
     The village was platted and laid out in 1840 by M. Snively.  The church in the village is the German Baptist - called Dunkards.  It was organized in 1877.
     The population is 125 souls.  In the village is a creamery, one general store, two blacksmith shops, a steam chopping mill, a pump maker, doctor, etc.

     Middleburg - The first settler here, who built the first house, was Jack Wolgamot.  The village was founded by Jacob Strickler, in 1812.  It is on the main road leading from Greencastle to Hagerstown, and takes its name from the fact that it is equi-distant between the two places.
     It was originally called "Spiglersburg."  Wolgamot, it is said, but his house on the State line - one-half the house in Maryland and one-half in Pennsylvania, so he could worry the officers who occasionally called to see him on official business.  But upon a new swing of the line, he had made a mistake, as the house was in Maryland and only the chimney in Pennsylvania.
     The Middleburg Reformed Church had its first preaching by Rev. John Rebaugh in 1837; congregation organized in 1852, sixty-four members.  The active members, elders and deacons were Philip Stine, Abraham Ziegler, Daniel P. Miller, Henry Miller, Michael Stine, Peter McLaughlin, Daniel Brickley, John Zeigler.  Rev. Rebaugh continued in charge until 1863, then Revs. Thomas G. Apple and Callender until 1870.  The place was then made a supply station; preaching by Rev. W. F. Colliflower, then by Revs. Stephen R. Remer and John Sykes.  Rev. Cyrus Cort is now the pastor in charge.  The congregation is rapidly growing and the church entirely prosperous.  The congregation is rapidly growing and the church entirely prosperous.  There is a Sunday-school of 120 attendants and nineteen teachers.

THE MORMONS.

     Mormons in Antrim. - It is not generally known, perhaps, that a strong effort was made to establish Mormonism in Pennsylvania, and yet such is the case.  After the killing of Joe Smith and Hyram Smith, at Carthage, Ill., by a mob, on teh 27th of June, 1844, the leadership of the Saints naturally belonged to Sidney Rigdon; but Brigham Young, an ambitious man and a more recent convert to the faith than Rigdon, was chosen first president.  His talented competitor was cut off from the communion of the faithful, cursed, and solemnly delivered over to the devil, "to be buffeted in the flesh for a thousand years."  In a short time, Rigdon, with a band of faithful followers, came eastward to Pittsburgh, Penn., where they established a paper to promulgate their doctrines.  While Young and his associates were flying to Salt Lake City, Rigdon and his adherents, reversing the doctrine that "westward the course of empire takes its way," sought a congenial field among the conservative inhabitants of the Keystone State.
     The work at Pittsburgh did not prosper.  In a short time, two emissaries sent out by Rigdon made their appearance in Antrim Township.  Stopping on the bridge that spans the Conococheague Creek, about a mile and a quarter west of Greencastle, they cast their eyes over the farm of Andrew G. McLanahan, which lay spread out before them and said: "This is the place the Lord has shown us in visions to be the site of the city of New Jerusalem."  Shortly afterward, Peter Peter, a wealthy farmer of Allegheny County, Penn., come on and contracted with Mr. McLanahan for his farm of about 400 acres, at $14,700.  Boyer paid $6,000 in advance, and gave a mortgage for the remainder of the purchase money.  The purchaser took possession in the spring of 1846, and in a short time Sidney Rigdon, Elders Hide and  Heber, Judge Richard, William E. McClellan, Hatch, Hinkle, Zody, Grimes, Ringer, and others joined them.  The band numbered, all told, about 150.  Most of them moved upon the farm, where they intended to lay out a grand city, build a magnificent temple and establish extensive manufacturing establishments.  Some of them located in town, and come engaged in various business interests.   They brought with them a printing press under the direction of Mr. E. Robinson, now of Iowa, and established a weekly paper, called the Conococheague Herald.
     They had among them mechanics, farmers, professional men and a few capitalists.  Among the latter class  was Judge Richards, who claims to have sacrificed $200,000 for the cause of Mormonism.  Sidney Rigdon was the Prophet and Commander.  Every Sunday they held services on the barn floor at the farm, Rigdon doing most of the preaching.  He was regarded a very shrewd and eloquent man.
     Idleness prevailed among these people.  They money brought with them was soon consumed.  The house, the barn, the corn crib, the smoke house even, were used as dwelling places.  Crops of grain were allowed to go to waste.  The time for the payment of the mortgage notes arrived, but no money for that purpose was available.  McLanahan foreclosed, in August, 1847, and all the visions of the future great city disappeared.  Some went to Utah, and some joined the Gentiles.  The conservative spirit of the Pennsylvanians would not accept the new religion, and the whole scheme failed, to the great rejoicing of the people.  To the western branch must the future look for the fulfillment of the prophecy uttered in 1829 by Robert Southey, the English poet and historian: "The next Aaron Burr who seeks to carve a kingdom for himself out of the outgrown territories of the Union may discover that Fanaticism is the most effective weapon with which ambition can arm itself; that the way for both is prepared by that immorality which the want of religion naturally and necessarily induces, and that camp-meetings may be very well directed to forward the designs of military prophets.  Were there another Mohammed to arise, there is no part of the world where he would find more scope or fairer opportunity than in that part of the Anglo-American Union into which the older States continually discharge the restless part of their population, leaving laws and gospel to overtake it if they can; for in the march of modern civilization, both the left behind."

END OF ANTRIM TOWNSHIP.