Lewis Doverspike

[Hiistory]

Lewis's estate was settled on the second day of April 1850. Before I give the final phase as to how the land was apportioned to his four sons, John, Lewis Jr., William, and Phillip, I must state that Lewis was already living on the Armstrong County land. John, William, and Phillip were living on farms north of Fairmount City in the Middle Run area, Redbank Township.

So when his heirs were mentioned in the estate settlement of 1850, Lewis Doverspike Jr. got the land on the Armstrong County side of Redbank Creek and for some of it he paid $654.

Some of it was just given to him. John, William and Phillip were allotted the farms on which they lived. The other sons and daughters were not mentioned in the estate settlement.

Lewis Doverspike, the first settler in the township, came to what is now Churchville, took up some vacant land and built a rude shanty in 1800, or quite probably before that time. He had no family while here, but followed trapping and hunting.

Lewis Doverspike entered into this area of Western PA just after 1800. His first settlement was in Monroe Township, the Churchville District.

He sold it in 1802 to Joseph Bricker and then moved to where New Bethlehem now stands.

In 1806, he made a purchase of land where present day South Bethlehem stands and a large tract of land around it.

But due to a large flood on the Redbank Creek, he crossed over Redbank Creek and bought a tract of land where present day New Bethlehem stands and also where Fairmont City, Redbank Township now stands.

Later he bought another tract of land which we know as the Middle Run district and a tract of land that joined Middle Run District, Redbank Township, about Fairmount City and New Bethlehem.

This was a reasonably flat area and it joined onto the original tract of land that he settled in 1802 above New Bethlehem.

Watermans & Watson's history of Armstrong County states that Lewis Doverspike crossed over the Redbank Creek and became the first permanent settler of what is now New Bethlehem in 1807. This allotment contains 200 acres and at that time in 1807 was known as Toby Township. In 1807 he was taxed for it as an improved land.

By the year or the end of the year 1807, Lewis Doverspike owned what is today South Bethlehem and a large tract of farm land around it.

He also owned a 200 acre tract where New Bethlehem now stands. Today as you cross the creek going from New Bethlehem into South Bethlehem right after you come off the end of the bridge and look up to the left stands a large house. This was first started by Lewis Doverspike Sr. But it was not the first house that he built.

The orginal was a small log house at the other end of what is today South Bethlehem. Lewis Doverspike Jr. added on to the house that is just at the end of the bridge in South Bethlehem because at his father's death he inherited part of that land and paid for part of it.

Other purchases made by Lewis Doverspike Sr:

On October 5, 1811 he purchased 130 acres from the Winkle Company for $195. These acres just added to the acreage that he already had owned from the Fairmont City flats and Middle Run territory bearing to the NW direction.

In 1809, he purchase 303 acres.

In 1826, he purchased 100 acres.

In 1828, he purchased 200 acres.

Census 1800 Census, page 360, Nescopeck Township, Luzerne County, PA

1 male 0/10

1 male 26/45

1 female 45/up

1810 Census, Toby Township, Armstrong County, PA

1 male 0/10

1 male 10/16

1 male 26/45

1 female 0/10

1 female 16/26

1820 Census, Redbank Township, Armstrong County, PA

3 males 0/10

1 male 10/15

1 male 26/45

2 females 0/10

1 female 16/26

1830 Census, page 212, Redbank Township, Armstrong County, PA

2 males 0/5

1 male 10/15

2 males 15/20

1 male 40/50

1 female 5/10

1 female 10/15

2 female 15/20

1 female 30/40

1840 Census, Redbank Township, Armstrong County, PA

2 males 10/15

2 males 15/20

2 males 20/30

1 male 50/60

2 females 15/20

1 female 20/30

1 female 40/50