Jimmy Carter - Missionary in Lock Haven, Campaigned in Williamsport

Democratic presidential hopeful, former Georgia Gov. Jimmy Carter, right, holds a poster as he mingles with the crowd during a campaign visit in  [Brandon Park] Williamsport, Pa., April 24, 1976

On April 24th, 1976, at the invitation of  Mayor Daniel P. Kirby, Jimmy Carter came to Williamsport on a campaign visit.  It was not his first visit to the area - he had lived, briefly, in a YMCA in Lock Haven, nearly a decade prior.

According to the April 25, 1976, edition of the Grit, more than 1,000 people attended Carter’s campaign rally at Brandon Park.

Carter won the April 27th Pennsylvania primary with 37 percent of the vote, and then won the election against President Gerald R. Ford. 

In his memoir, “Living Faith,” published in 1996, President Carter mentions his time in Lock Haven as a Southern Baptist missionary, and  how much he loved his time in the community.  Carter came to Lock Haven in 1968, with the goal of establishing a Southern Baptist Church there.  In May of 1968, Carter took a room at the Lock Haven YMCA on East water Street.

https://amzn.to/4jRExWp

According to his account, there were many without a religious affiliation. "His task was daunting yet simple: to visit families identified by volunteers from State College, who had canvassed the area by calling every family in the phone book. His days were spent knocking on doors, facing varied receptions - from open arms to closed doors. "

In the book, Carter recounts an incident in which he asked a local Salvation Army worker for directions to a specific address. After giving the directions, the worker asked dubiously if Carter was certain he wanted to go there. Without asking for further clarification, Carter said he was certain. Lock Haven was once well known for its brothels, and the address Carter headed to was indeed one of those establishments.  He spoke with a young prostitute for two hours, and although eh was unsuccessful at converting her, he did convince her to call her estranged parents.  Eventually Carter raised enough support to rent a small stone building at 215 Grant Street for a new church.  The building still stands, but the congregation did not last long.

In October of 1976, Carters daughter in law, Mrs. Juliette Carter, spoke at Bucknell University, campaigning for her father in law.

Former President Jimmy Carter returned to Lycoming County at least twice, both fly fishing trips along Grey Run. Theodore Roosevelt, Herbert Hoover, and Kathryn Hepburn also fished in Lycoming County, over the years.

When the Presidents Visited The Valley - An Index

When the Presidents Came to Fish In Lycoming County

Ogontz Lodge

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HISTORY OF POTTSGROVE by John F. Mack

 
Pottsgrove, on the 1858 Map of Northumberland County

HISTORY OF POTTSGROVE 

by John F. Mack 

Written about 1922/1925

With added notes in 1974

"The oldest building we have record of is the old log house which was built by William Reed in 1770. He fought as an a Ensign in the Revolutionary War and the house was given in 1817 to his daughter Mary who was Mrs. William Fisher. Mrs. Fisher lived in the house until her death January 16, 1864. Her husband died in 1824. They had two daughters Sarah Jane, married to Charles Huff and Mary, married to Samuel McNinch. They have one daughter, Carrie McNinch, now Mrs. Walters. 

After Mrs. Fisher's death the property passed to her two daughters. Mrs. Huff lived in the home until 1878 when she took up her residence with her niece, Mrs. Ada McNinch Rayer. The house was occupied by different tenants from that time on until it was taken over by the school board in 1920. Mr. and Mrs. William McNinch, Mr. and Mrs. William Stout and Hr. and Mrs. John Hinebauch occupied the house during the time it was rented. 1 

The property belonged to William Reed and his descendants for one hundred and fifty years as it was part of the original land granted to his father in 1765. Pottsgrove was built on this Land. The old Reed homestead was located on the hill south of Pottsgrove where Linskills now live. For many years this was known as the Foresman farm. 2 

The only hotel Pottsgrove has ever had was built by William Reed on the lot where Zechmans now live. The hotel was occupied by the Reed family until about 1900. 3

 Where Hacks store now is was a store building and was occupied by descendants of William Reed. 

The house now known as the John Auten home was built by William Reed for his great-granddaughter, Mrs. J.R. Smith. 4 

Pottsgrove has had two tanneries operated by Samuel McNinch from 1842 to 1878. The one was situated in what is now known as the Robbins yard. This was the McNinch homestead for nearly 50 years. 5  The second tannery was built on the East side of the road close to the railroad station. 6 This building burned in the eighties. A mill was built on the ground where Charles Kelly's house now stands. 7 This mill burned down. 

Then Samuel Russel and Mr. Custer, who were in business in Milton started to build the mill. Shortly after the building was started, Mr. Russel was found dead in bed. The mill was then turned over to a stock company. They ran it for a number of years and it was sold to Mr. Edgar Blue. He sold it to the Rohm Brothers. Walter Rohm sold his interest to Lee Lindner, but they failed. Then it was sold to Mr. Wagner and son. They ran it a year and failed. Mr. Lewis from Mahanoy City bought the mill at the sale. He kept it a few months and sold it to Cloyd Zechman.                                                                                                                                                     

 The blacksmith shop which is now the present shop is about 47 foot long and 28 feet wide. Part of the floor which is 17 1/2 feet by 28 foot is concrete. The first proprietor as far back as is known was Mr. John Kerstetter. It was formally a brick building which was built about 1850. It has always boon a blacksmith shop.

Mr. Jacob Reed purchased it from Mr. Kastettor and he hired help to do the work. Mr. Reed built the wooden part of the shop and about half of it is still standing.

Mr. Harry Deiffenderfer purchased the shop from Mr. Reed in 1899 and is still proprietor of it. He tore half of the wooden structure down in 1920 and rebuilt it of concrete. This part is 28 feet wide and 35 feet long. 8   

Mr. Thomas Reed owned the land where now stands John Mack's store.      

 Mr. Thomas Beiber tried to purchase land to build a large department store.  If Mr. Beiber could have purchased the land the store would have extended to the house where Mr. and Mrs. Rolland Bennett now live. 9  This store was never completed while Mr. Beiber owned it, but later Mr. Frank Lindner purchased and completed it. He then sold the store to Mr. Montgomery.

Later the Montgomerys moved across the street, now known as Mr. Rummage's store. 10  

Then Mrs. Lindner and son Harvey started business in the building. Later Lake and Vandine purchased the store. They did not keep the store long as their goods were sold at auction. Soon Mr. Lee Lindner bought the store. He was then a boy of fifteen years. Mr. Lindner needed some assistance in his business so he took in E.M. Moore as a partner, but the business did not thrive and they sold it to Mr. J.L. Levan. Mr. Levan sold the store to C.I. Rummage. Mr. George Keefer-then bought the store. 

                                                                                                                                                    Later, in 1909: Mr. John Mack purchased the store and has been the owner ever since. "

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            THE END

The following footnotes will help you determine in 1974, about where these old buildings once stood.

    1 This house stood near the spot on the Pottsgrove School lawn where the Serviceman's marker now stands.

    2 At the present time the Hearn family lives in the brick house on this property.  Just previous to their purchasing it, Mr. and Mrs. James J. McGinnis and family owned the property.

    3 This lot is now owned and occupied by Mrs. Emily Mack Neuhard and family.

    4 This property is now vacant. The buildings and lot are owned by hr. Frederick  Boyer of Pottsgrove. The last family to live there was Mr. and Mrs. Harry Baumgardner, deceased. This property lies between Croman's Garage and the Luthernn parsonage on the main street of Pottsgrove.

    5 Some recent owners of this property on Mill road include the Henry Wentzel family, the Wayne Vonarx family, the William Bressler family and at the present time it is owned and occupied by the Richard Herald family .

    6 The railroad station was located between Zechman's Flour Mill and the railroad tracks. 

    7 Charles Kelly's house was located on Mill Road on the property lately owned by the Thomas McBryan family, now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Lee Sauers.

    8 This property is now owned by Mr. and Mrs. John C. Bogle. In recent years it has belonged to Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Reichard and Mr. and Mrs. Elwood McCormick. 

    9 This house is owned and occupied in 1974 by Mr. and Mrs. William Erb and family and is the second house east of the school building.

   10 The property on the northeast corner of the square, formerly the Rummage Store now houses a garage business and apartments. It is owned and operated by the Ralph and Raymond (his son) Croman family. 

   11 The store was purchased in 1951 by Mr. Samuel W. Mack, one of the sons of John F. Mack, who owns and op orates it now in 1974. 

This "History of Pottsgrove" was written by Mr. John Mack sometime between 1922 and 1925. To fix the date 'of the writing we have spoken with Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Zechman who are mentioned in the narrative. They lived on the square in the house where Emily Neuhard now lives, from October 1922 to April 1925.

 It was about this time that the Flour Mill was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Zechman. The Zechmans are celebrating in 1974 their 50th year in business. They lived in a re—modeled portion of the warehouse until they built a new brick home adjacent to the mill in 1935 or 1936.

 This family was instrumental, because of their need, in getting electricity to come to Pottsgrove in 1924. It was at this time that a good number of houses in the village were wired for electric power. 

The store building on the northwest corner of Pottsgrove, once operated by Sproul and Park, later by Mr. C.H. McMahan as a feed store, was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Croman in 1946. This building now houses the present Post Office. Charles L. Rishel retired as postmaster on December 31, 1973. Mr. Rishel was replaced by Mrs. Norma Wagner who is the present postmaster. 

The Be-Centennial Committee of the Chillisquaque Presbyterian Church of Pottsgrove wishes to thank the John Mack family for their generosity in providing this "History of Pottsgrove" to then for printing. Our thanks are also extended to Mr. Charles L. Rishel who has given so freely of his tine and information to help the present generation know something of the past. 

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THE PAGES

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I found these 3 pages stapled together, folded, and stuck in a completely unrelated book.

The Montour Preserve Fossil Pit

 

The Montour Preserve Fossil Pit

 160 Sportsmans Rd, Danville, PA 17821

Montour Preserve is a large park with a variety of trails, a lake for kayaking, a small museum, and, a fossil pit.

The fossil pit consists of approximately one acre of exposed Mahantango Formation shale.  Formed some 395 million years ago during the Devonian Period when much of Pennsylvania was covered by a warm, shallow sea, these shales are particularly rich in fossils.  

The most commonly found fossils at this site are Pelecypods (oyster, mussel and clam-type species), Cephalopods, Brachiopods (lamp shells), Byrozoans (moss-like animals), Crinoids, Gastropods (snail-like creatures), Corals and Trilobites. 

 There is a parking area right at the fossil pit, and public restrooms in the parking areas closer to the lake.

From the parking lot to the actual fossil pit is a very short walk.  

The fossil pit is open from dawn to dark year-round.  Admission is free and visitors may keep any fossils they find. 

I've been visiting the fossil pit for decades - most often on school field trips.  Until this trip, April 2025, I had never really found much.  On this trip, with my 5 year old grandson, we found quite a few small fossils, and a few larger ones.

Some of our larger finds

Take a hammer, and possibly a small brush.

Things To Know:

- Cell phone service can be spotty here

- There are no restaurants or stores in the immediate area.

- Turbotville and Danville are the nearest towns, Danville has a lot more options for restaurants, but Turbotville is a little closer and does have a gas station & two restaurants.

- No Dogs are allowed at Montour Preserve.

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The Second Stone House In Milton

 

A marker at the corner of Mahoning and Front Streets in Milton Reads:

"On this site stood the second stone house in Milton. 

It was built in 1803 by Peter Swartz for Dr. James Dougal, Milton's first permanent physician and ancestor of a long line of physicians to practice in this community.

It Survived the Great Milton Fire of 1880 and was demolished in 1974, stones from the structure form the base of this plaque."

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From the History Of Northumberland County, 1876:

THE FIRST STONE HOUSE

In Milton was built in 1796, by Peter Swartz, stone-mason, for James Black, Esq., on his land on Water street [today Front st.] , just north of Broadway. Before this, all buildings had been of wood - either log or frame - and this one was looked upon as a very superior structure. When Mr. Black’s financial troubles came, the house and land fell into the possession of William and Thomas Pollock, and is now owned by ex-Governor James Pollock, who is making elegant and extensive repairs upon it. The character of the old mansion may be judged from the fact that, on May 4th, 1876, when (in it’s eighteenth year) it was damaged by the fire at the corner of Water street and Broadway, the insurance upon it (exclusive of furniture) was three thousand dollars.

THE SECOND STONE HOUSE

Was that of Dr. James Dougal, also built by Peter Swartz, in 1803. It is still occupied by Dr. James Dougal, the son of the first proprietor. It is a large, solid, quadrangular house, and certainly does not seem to have lived out half it’s days.

The Hetherington House Still Stands in Milton Today

See more about it here

The same, or the following year, Swartz built a third house, of the same material, for John Hetherington, in the lower part of the town.

THE FIRST BRICK BUILDING

In Milton, was a one-and-a-half story dwelling-house, built in 1802, for Miss Ellen Sanderson, who afterwards became Mrs. David Ireland.  The house stood on the north side of Market street, directly east of, and adjoining the residence of George Corry, deceased.

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Dr. James S. Dougal:

Dr. James S. Dougal

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Red Bank School, Mifflinburg Pa

 
805 Red Bank Road, Mifflinburg, PA

Originally a wood plank school built at the northwest corner of Forest Hill and Red Bank Roads.  

The building was replaced with a brick building in 1886, on land owned by the Edlemans, a little to the east of the original building. 

 The old wooden school was move to the new location, and used as a coal shed for the new school.  it was razed in the 1990s.

In 1953,  West Buffalo Township purchased the building for $1.  They used it as a township building until 1988.

The Union County Historical Society, in partnership with the West Buffalo Twp Supervisors, restored the school house to be used as a museum.

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CLASS PHOTOS

1917

1926-27

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https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2019/05/one-room-schoolhouses-index.html

The Grozing, of French Jacobs, Mill Monument

 Marker Located at: N 40° 58.889 W 077° 03.960

The Inscription Reads:

"Near this spot JACOB GROZING erected a grist mill in 1776, which was used as a place of refuge by the settlers during the Indian troubles, here on May 16 1780.  A patrol of Revolutionary Soldiers was attacked by a band of Delaware Indians.  

The four following men were killed:
John Forrester Jr
George Etzweiler
James Chambers
Samul McLoughlin"

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From Daily Stories of Pennsylvania, By Godcharles

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Historic Pilgrimage 
As recounted in the Selinsgrove Times Tribune, 1939

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Frederic Antes Godcharles, historian, of Milton, visited Yesteryear last week, told a story of Indian activities in and around New Berlin, that have given interest to another of those historic pilgrimages in which some of us take such delight. 

Map Of the Brush Valley Narrows - The Heberling Mill, Under the S, is the location of the French Jacob Mill

At the end of Brush Valley Narrows, Union county, about one-half mile southeast of the Forest House is the location of what was known as French Jacob's Mill. The land has long been in the possession of the Wohlheiter family. There in the spring of 1780 occurred a massacre known in history as the Massacre of French Jacob's Mill. The mill was built in 1776 by Jacob Groshong, or "French Jacob," as he was called by his neighbors. Groshong's nickname, "French Jacob" is still preserved in that section in connection with a large spring a short distance above the Forest House. In 1787 he was assessed in his nickname instead of his proper name. 

On May 16, 1780, a patrol of Continental soldiers was on duty as a garrison at the mill, and was attacked by a party of Indians. Four of the garrison were killed and several wounded. Those killed were John Foster, James Chambers, George Etzweiler, and Samuel McLaughlin.

The story is that the soldiers were swimming in the mill race, having just returned from a patrol of the neighborhood and were confident no Indians were in that neighborhood. Christian Shively, who lived near the mill, heard the firing while threshing grain in his field. He immediately hid his wife and two small children near the creek. He then rolled some logs into Penn's Creek and tied them to the raft. In this way they floated down the stream to Beatty's, where New BerIin is now located.

In the Annals of Buffalo Valley, Philip Pontius relates that his father also heard the signal, unhitched his horse and made a circuit thru the woods, gun in hand, to the mill. He related how one man named William Fisher narrowly escaped. He was running to the mill during the attack. Just as he reached the door his foot slipped on a wet board and he fell into the door. The bullet intended for him struck into the building on a line where his head would have been had he not fallen.

"John Foster was an uncle of Captain John Foster, of Mifflinburg, and a brother of the old Major Thomas Foster. James Chambers was the son of Robert Chambers. "George Etzweiler, Junior, left a widow, Mary. George Etzweiler, a son of the one killed, kept hotel at McKee's Half Falls, as late as 1812. William Fisher was the grandfather of James Crossgrove and Sheriff John Crossgrove, and resided in Limestone, where James Crossgrove lately resided.

William Gill told me he heard old Mrs. Overmeter say that the e people who were killed, were brought over to the place adjoining Philip Seebold's residence, above New Berlin, and were buried in the old graveyard on the bluff at the creek, where Dry Run comes in, nearly opposite where Tuscarpa Run enters Penn's Creek, on the Snyder county side. (Philip Seebold said, in 1872, that George Etzweiler was buried on Jacob Cook's place, now Peter Slear's, in Limestone township.) Here old John Trester and the first settlers were buried. The graveyard, probably the oldest in the county, was not used after 1791, when the people commenced burying in New Berlin. It belonged to Thomas Barber, who was killed in 1792, by the timbers of an old barn falling on him...."

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Dry Run Cemetery

New Berlin, Pennsylvania, USA

Coordinates: 40.87390, -77.00804

Nothing remains of the cemetery today, even the historical marker is gone.

This photo is from the Find A Grave Listing For Dry Run Cemetery

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Monument Erected  in 1922

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From Linn's Annals of Buffalo Valley pg 185

Attack on French Jacob's Mill.

NORTHUMBERLAND TOWN, May 18, 1780.

I am unhappy enough to inform you the savage enemy have, on the 16th inst., made a stroke on the inhabitants of this much distressed county, at Buffalo Valley. At French Jacob Grozong's mills four men killed, viz: Jno. Forster, jr., _______ Eytzwiller, James Chambers, and Samuel McLaughlen. The enemy got only one of the scalps. The neighboring inhabitants, on hearing the firing, briskly turned out, and pursued the enemy very brave, but was not able to overtake them. The inhabitants have stood here, indeed, longer than could been expected, were it not desperation. But, sir, unless some support can be instantly afforded, the State shortly count one county less than formerly - which God forbid. I refer you, D'r sir, to the bearer, Gen. Potter, for further information, as he waits on horseback, whilst I write this imperfect, distress'd acc't. Provisions none, cash none, nor can it be had in this place. Gen. Potter's acc'ts from this place to the Hon'ble the Assembly, which I doubt not you will see, will fully satisfy you of the state of this place

 I am, D'r sir, your most obt. humble Serv't, 

MATTHEW SMITH

Gen. Jos. REED.

Sometime between 1776 and 1779, Jacob Groshong, familiarly known as French Jacob, built a little log mill, the site of which is now familiarly known as Solomon Heberling's, on what he supposed was his own location. He was defeated in a suit at Sunbury, rode home the same night, dismantled the mill, moved the wheels, &c., down to the site of what is now Dater & Reish's mill. Here he re-built his mill in 1782 and 1783, and added a saw-mill in 1785.  In 1793 Enoch Thomas got the property, and Groshong moved up to the end of the Nittany mountain, in Centre county, and thence West. From Thomas, it passed  into the hands of Christopher Johnson, in 1797, and into the hands of John Hofferd, in 1808, and finally into the Reish's. 

The old mill building, where this fight occurred, Mr. Philip Pontius told me he took down when he owned the property, and that he carefully preserved the timbers that had the bullet marks in them, and placed them in another building there, where they could still be seen.

 This will explain the impression on the minds of some old people I have talked with, who alleged the site of French Jacob's mill, where the fight occurred, was at the old Hofferd or Reish mill; whereas, in truth, it occurred at the little old mill, the site of which is on Solomon Heberling's place.

 Groshong's name, or rather his nick-name, is still preserved in connection with the large spring a little above the tavern, on the Brush Valley road. I find in 1787 he was assessed by his nickname, "Jacob, French." He is the hero of all the wild tales of Indian troubles in that part of the Valley. 

The place where he hid from the Indians, beside this spring, is still pointed out. The place became more noted in after years as the residence of Captain John Bergstresser, who, as early as 1811, had an oil, fulling- mill, saw-mill, and kept store upon the premises. Bergstresser came in after Henry Snyder, who had some sort of mills there as early as 1802. Christian Shively told my informant, John Beeber, that he heard the signal firing at this time. He was threshing some grain at the time. He had a hard, smooth place tramped on the ground, and was throwing the wheat up in the air to allow the wind to blow the chaff away. He immediately hid his wife and two children near the mouth of White Spring run. He slipped silently about, rolled some logs into Penn's creek, tied them with hickory withes into a raft, put his wife and children on, and floated down to Beatty's, where New Berlin now stands. 

Philip Pontius told me his father also heard the signal. He Un- hitched his horses, and made a circuit through the woods, gun in hand, and came to the mill. He said William Fisher made a narrow escape. He was running into the mill, when his foot slipped on a board, and he fell into the door. The bullet intended for him struck the building on a line where his head would have been had he not fallen. 

One tradition of the neighborhood is that this was a patrol of five men which passed every day between Titzell's, late Kelly's, mill and French Jacob's, and they were attacked by the Indians in sight of the mills. Another has it that the soldiers were out washing when they were fired on. 

John Forster was an uncle of the late Captain John Forster, of Mifflinburg, and a brother of the old Major Thomas Forster. 

James Chambers was the son of Robert Chambers. 

George Etzweiler, junior, left a widow named Mary. George Etzweiler, a son of the one killed, kept hotel at McKee's Half-Falls, as late as 1812.

 William Fisher was the grandfather of James Crossgrove and Sheriff John Crossgrove, and resided in Limestone, where James Crossgrove lately resided. 

William Gill told me he heard old Mrs. Overmeier say that the people who were killed, were brought over to the place adjoining Philip Seebold's residence, above New Berlin, and were buried in the old grave-yard on the bluff at the creek, where Dry run comes in, nearly opposite where Tuscarora Creek enters Penn's Creek.

 

Researching J. Martin Heiner, Bodyguard to Washington In Sunbury

 
A Tombstone for Martin Heiner in the Sunbury Cemetery
Noted as "The Bodyguard For George Washington"

Find the Post about this find in the Sunbury Pa Facebook Group here

Recently, during a cemetery clean up in Sunbury, the owner of the Sunbury Pa list [an excellent, well run, on topic facebook group, for those interested in Sunbury Memories and History] found a burial record for "George Washington's Bodyguard".  

This is an incredibly interesting topic, but to get a new stone and marker to recognize this location, more facts are needed.  What we have so far are a lot of stories, and some obvious errors.  I could spend weeks on this and get nowhere on my own, so I am hoping that if I put all of the information in one place, some of you who enjoy research and have subscriptions to various research sites may  be able to chime in and see what you can find.

Here's what we Know:

[In an attempt to make this easier for comments, each of the items below has a link to a facebook photo where anyone can add comments and photos with more information]

On FB HERE	WPA Burial Record WPA tombstone requests were often  made based on information from families, and can be unreliable when used for genealogical purposes.  This information was provided in January 1940, and likely based on the newspaper articles stating that Matilda [Heiner] Wray's father served as Washington's bodyguard.  Her father would have been about 6 when the Revolutionary War ended, so definitely not her father - maybe her grandfather? On it's own, this card cannot be used as proof.
On FB HERE	Map showing burial location, shared in the Sunbury Group Questions - when was this map drawn, and what information is it based on?   Is there a church record for the burial? [that would be a source that could be used for verification]
On FB HERE And see the full sheet this is taken from here	To further complicate matters, this tombstone request is from: in the U.S., Headstones Provided for Deceased Union Civil War Veterans, 1861-1904 However, Martin Heiner, Tillie's father, could also not have served in the civil war - having died in 1847.  This record states that he served in the Revolutionary War.   The death date is one I commonly see used for Martin Jr in Sunbury, but the only record of his death I have found so far is in the newspaper in May of 1847.  Was there more than one Martin Heiner in Sunbury at this time, or are the dates simply not correct? Census Records, and church burial records , may help sort this out.
On FB HERE	Another Burial Card Showing information given in 1934 by  M.M. Siegfried.  The information for this marker was verified by the GAR [Civil War] but lists Heiner as a bodyguard for George Washington.
On FB HERE	Record for Martin Heiner found in a booklet in the Northumberland County Historical Society Collection. Two items of interest here - can we trace who this Martin is for certain, and find records of him living in Sunbury? And - DAR #387888  I used that number to do an online search on the DAR site, but I don't know enough about how these numbers are used.  my search returned no results with that number.
On FB Here	Death announcement for Tillie [Heiner] Wray In the Miltonian, April 4th 1912 Stating that her father served in the Revolution [which we know is not possible.  Possibly her grandfather?]

On FB HERE AND HERE	Another story of Martin Heiner as George Washington's bodyguard, this time placing him at Valley Forge as they were about to resort to cannibalism.   Even if it is true, I cannot see any source or additional helpful information.
On FB Here	1977 Interview of Charles Wray "When I was a kid, my mother died, so I was raised by my grandparents, Alexander and Matilda Wray, who lived at 252 S. Front St. My grandmother told me that her great -grandmother told her that her (the great-grandmother's) great-great-grandfather, Martin Hiner, was one of Washington's bodyguards when they crossed the Delaware River" in 1776. "The other things I know of him are," Wray, who lives at 445 S. Awl St., says, "that he sometime after that married a young girl. They came to the forks of the Susquehanna River here at Sunbury and decided to stay. "*He was the first white man to live here at Sunbury. My grandmother said she was told that the Indians, who were still on Blue Hill, would come down and steal things but that they wouldn't harm you. Martin Hiner is buried on the Wray plot at the Sunbury cemetery.' Because he is the only living member of the family line allegedly descended from Hiner and has no children, Wray believes he may be the last man to have such historical ties to Sunbury's past..

 I did a preliminary search of the following records, with no results for any Heiner/Hiner/Hyner

• Historical Collections of the State of Pennsylvania, by Sherman Day, Philadelphia, 1843, Page 524 -537
• Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania .. by Floyd, J.L., & Co., Chicago, pub
• History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania by Bell, Herbert C. [does show a William Heiner in Milton]
• Fold 3 - trying a variety of searches including name, and the location of Sunbury Pa.  I found nothing that seems to pertain to a Heiner in Northumberland County.

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Matilda "Tille" Susan [Heiner] Wray 

Born February 18 1837

Married Alexander Donaldson Wray

Died March 28 1912

Genealogical Records

Matilda Susan "Tillie" Heiner was born February 13th 1838, the daughter of John Martin Heiner Jr  who was born in 1776, and died in 1847. He married Mary "Polly" Miller, according to her death certificate.

Martin , her father, died in 1847, age 70. His death notice is in the May 1 1847 issue of the Sunbury Gazette. If all of that is correct, Martin was 60 years old when Tillie was born. Her mother Mary [Miller] Heiner is shown age 54 in the census with Alexander and Tillie Wray. If her age is correct, she was born about 1806. The 1850 census shows Mary as a widow, age 45, with 13 year old Matilda living with her - keeping her age consistent, and consistent with Martin's death notice in 1847.

Tillie was 9 or 10 years old when her father died, in 1847, which may be why she was confused in her later years. The Revolutionary war ended in 1783, when Tillie's father was about 6 years old. Possibly her grandfather served in the Revolution?  Can we confirm who Martin Jr's father was?

	Who was the father of John Martin Jr 1776-1847?
On FB HERE	The 1840 Census for Sunbury Pa shows a Martin Heiner 1 Male aged 60-69 [Martin age 63 ] 1 Female 40-49 [Mary age 34] 1 Female Under 5 [Tillie age 2]
	The Sunbury Gazette Sat, May 1, 1847 Pg 3 Martin Heiner who died in Sunbury in 1847 was said to be 70 years old, making his birth year approximately 1777.
On FB Here	The 1850 Census in Sunbury, Northumberland County, shows: Mary Heiner age 45  [b. abt. 1805] Matilda Heiner age 13 [b. abt 1837]
ON FB HERE	The Sunbury Gazette, March 19, 1853 reported thar Mr Alexander Wray married Miss Matilda, "daughter of the late Captain Hiner, all of this place." Could her father possibly have served in the War of 1812?
On FB here	The 1860 census in Sunbury Shows Alexander Ray 27 Matilda Ray 20 Eleanora Ray 4 Harriet Ray 1 Mary Heiner 54

	Find a grave has a listing for Mary "Polly" Heiner,  1806-1865 , in Sunbury Cemetery

 Searched, But No Results Found:

Chronicles of a Germany family, or, Heiners of Germany, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and Texas

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On December 31 1833 there was a letter left at the post office in Sunbury for Martin Heiner.  It's proof of nothing, other than that a Martin Heiner likely lived in Sunbury in 1833.  This would likely have been Matilda [Heiner] Wrays father.

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I think the info below is what I need to follow up on next.  It looks like he is the father of the Martin buried in Sunbury-

John Martin Heiner,Sr., was a soldier of the Revolution, at the time of his entrance in the Army, He lived in Dover Township, York Co., PA., this was in 1778, He sold his land to Anthony Deardorff here in Dover Township., PA, Then he moved to Botetourt County, Virginia in 1788, where he bought 700 acres of land along the little James River, He was married to Mary Deardorff they were the parents of a large family, The Will of John Hiner, Sr. is on file in the indenture book, Vol.B.Page 6, date of record 1801.

[There is also a  different John Hiner who enlisted IN Virginia, not in Berks County.  He died in 1814, and is buried in VA, seems to be well documented and does not appear to be connected to Martin Jr]