Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-02-18
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
fFor the SPECTATOR.

MIR. ED1TOR.-A1lller ) 1rOn Nv OrkS, Oh
Messy Creek, were built by Henry Miller
and Mark Bird, of Burks county, Pa, in
1774. To trace its history to the year 1896,
when it was sold hy the heirs of Capt.
Samuel Miller to Henry Keneagy, of this
county, constitutes large chapter, which
may some day see the light, and will be
read with interest.
Somewhere about 1880, Daniel Forrer,
born on the Hawksbill, in Page county,
visited this county and married Elizabeth,
the only daughter of John Keneagy, of
Paradise township. Carrying her to Vir-
ginia, she was not pleased, w,,ec-s>Te. w,,eenc- ,hsv>Te
turned tS4 41znc1stsT aicsT and spent few years.
1t was somewhere about 1884 that they
must have returned to Virginia, as we find
him, Samuel Givens, Of Rockingham, and
Henry Forrer, a younger brother, (yet liv.
ing) engaged in erecting, on some 400 OF
500 acres of land of Samuel Givens, the
Shenandoah Iron Works. They were op.
Grated number Of years under the style
of Forrer, Givens & Forrer. In 1886 Henry
Keneagy, the only brother OF Mrs. Forrer,
was induced by D. Forrer to purchase, as
we have said, the Miller Iron Works. He
managed them to 1S4S. A year or two be.
fore, Immediately on setting out for East
ern Virginia, at the Holidays, to hire
hands, he was hardly out of sight of the
g.. =
up. 1t was supposed it was caused in
some way from the running off of the met
al. 1t was never rebuilt. In 1S47, Ke.
neagy sold the property to Daniel Forrel
and returned to this county. We had moi
heard from him in long time, and was Of
the impression that himself and wife were
both dead. Soon after reaching here in
November, On hearing the name men,
toned, we spoke of Henry Keneagy and
family being neighbors for eleven years,
and we supposed both to be dead. Oul
informant said that he was satisfied that
we were in error, and that he had for ter
years resided in this city. We got the
number and rang the bell; he answered 1t,
and startled us in looking so much like we
had seen him 50 years ago. l would have
recognized him any where. He did not
know us. We met him a second time, when
for ten days we were in Virginia. When
we returned, our friend said to us: sit was
fortunate you visited your old neighboi
when you did" "Why?" we asked. ''He
was buried yesterday" On the morning
of December 18th, he fed his chickens in
the garden, and returning in a few min.
utes, said he was unwell, and in a hall
hour was corpse. His wife, a daughter
in delicate health, and four orphan grand
children, under twelve years, occupy his
home.
We should have stated that in 1887 the
Forrers purchased Samuel Givens' interest,
and carried on under the name of s'D. 6
H. Forrer." In 1866, they sold out to
Orchards, Bro. s. Co.," but had not con-
veyed, when presently the new firm had to
surrender to them the property.
Daniel Forrer operated the Messy Creek
forge, and presently bought the property
in Buffalo Gap, built the furnace. ard
called it elizabeth" after his wife. In
December, 1865, his brother and self sold
to VIM. Mines, of Pottsville, Schuylkil
county, the Shenandoah furnace and 35, 00C
acres of land. Daniel Forrer died on Jan
uary 2nd, 1868, having made his impress
on the times in which he lived as an intel
gent, public-spirited, useful citizen. His
youngest son, Samuel, and sister, Mrs
Harman, are occupying the Messy Greek
property. OCCASIONAL.
LANCASTER, Pa, February 4th.