He was a blacksmith by trade, and moved to Wayne township (now Oliver), at what is now Lockport, and in 1829 opened the three locks for the first time for boats to pass through. He remained at the place four or five years and moved to a farm which James Shepherd recently owned. In 1861 he moved to what is now Granville, on the McFadden farm. It was made a passenger station in 1866, and the same ye
ar a post-office was established as Granville; the place was known before as Wolfkill’s Siding. LOCKPORT. - The place now known as Lockport or Three Locks lies at the mouth of Brightsfield or Strode's Run. A short distance above, on the Juniata River, where Strunk's mills now stands there had been a settlement for many years, at the place under the name of Willis' Mill. In 1829-30 three locks were built along the canal at this place and a lock-house. Owen Owens was for several years in charge and owned a lot there. About 1830 a Methodist Society was formed in the neighborhood by the Rev. Jas. Stevens, and meetings were held in Mr. Owens' house for a time. In 1832 the society purchased the lot of Mr. Owens and erected the present stone church. The society was under the charge of Baltimore Conference for many years and was supplied by circuit preachers, among whom were Henry Taring and Peter McAuly. It now belongs to the Central Pennsylvania Conference, and this church and the Granville Church are supplied every other Sunday, one in the morning the other in the evening. In 1833 Owen Owens erected at the Three Locks a store, which he kept until May 9, 1835, when S. F. & G. Green purchased and run; they also built on the canal a warehouse for storing grain and merchandise. This firm dissolved in November of that year and business was discontinued. A Baptist Society was organized in 1840 and worshipped part of the time in the Methodist Church and part in the store then kept by John Ickes. In 1842 they purchased a lot of Robert Hope and erected a church edifice, which is still used. Of the pastors who have served are the Revs. David Williams, A. B. Stills, W. Purdy, J. L. Holmes, S. K. Boyer, George W. Coulter, Black and D. W. Hunter, who closed his pastorate in 1883. The church has a membership of forty and a flourishing Sunday-school. Samuel Strong keeps a store at Lockport at present.
