The Peffley, Peffly, Pefley Families in America, A historical and genealogical record of the Peffley, Peffly and Pefley families from 1729-1938; Published in 1938, By May Miller Frost and Clarence Earl Frost

Call Number: R929.2 P375

943 - HENRY PEFLEY was born in Bethel township, Lancaster Co., (now Lebanon Co.) Penna., where he was reared. He lived in Berks Co. for a while and in 1795 joined his older brother, David, in Botetourt Co., Va., where, on the same day, they each purchased a farm from William McClanahan, facing on the "Great Road" and adjoining each other. On a farm, apart of what is now the land of Hollins College, lived Andrew Borndrager, a few miles from where Henry lived. Andrew's daughter, Susannah, became the wife of Henry Pefley. He built a substantial brick house, which is in fine repair. It was made of brick burned on the place, the front part being of red brick made from blue clay and the rear of gray brick burned from red clay. It is claimed that the art of making brick thus has since been lost, the secret being in the firing. There are two bedrooms and a living room, 20x22 feet down stairs and the same number of rooms upstairs. Each room has a fireplace. Outside at the front right hand corner of the house is a small room with an outside door. It was known as the flour room. The kitchen was a separate building at the rear of the house. Very unusual brick were used in the construction of the house, some being U shaped for cornices and others V shaped for the corners. A brick wall stands between the house and the "Great Road", now U. S. Highway 11, known as the Lee Highway.

Across the road from the house stood a log building used in the early days as a school-house. It burned down several years ago. Near this building was Henry's water supply, a cave spring. The entrance to the cave is walled up and one enters through a wooden door. Within is a solid rock cavern extending back into the hill some 20 ft. It is about seven feet high at the entrance and slopes down at the rear. Out of the dim-recess at the back flows a clear cold stream that furnishes an ample supply for all the needs of the farm. The cave is a perfect refrigerator. The cold water flowing into a long shallow tank keeps the milk, cream and butter in perfect condition. The draft of air in the cave suggests underground caverns beyond.

On this farm Henry and Susannah reared their family and spent the major portion of their lives. They may have been buried on the farm as there are a number of unmarked graves in the wooded pasture on the place.

When David Dyerle bought the place from the Pefley heirs he added another wing to the house, which is now occupied by his grandchildren, the Bushong's.

In the hall of the house stands a huge grandfather's clock that reaches almost to the ceiling. While Henry was alive a peddler from Hagerstown, Md., came through selling clocks. He stayed at Henry's for some time and when he was ready to leave could not pay his bill. He left the clock as security and said that if he did not come back Henry could keep it. He never returned. The works of the clock were made in Hamburg, Germany. The beautiful case is of cherry. Presumably when the heirs sold the property they also sold the clock to David Dyerle. An interesting story is told by Harry Bushong, one of the present owners. Many years ago a camp-meeting of the Church of the Brethren was held at Roanoke. Members came from several states. One day during the meeting Mrs. Bushong was driving toward Roanoke in her buggy when she met a woman walking in the same direction. The day being hot, and the pedestrian looking tired, Mrs. Bushong asked her to ride. In the course of conversation the visitor remarked, "I am from Indiana and my husband and I came down to attend the camp-meeting. But to tell the truth I came also to find an old grandfather clock that was the property of Henry Pefley. The place I am looking for is a red brick house that faces the road somewhere near Salem. My brother-in-law in Indiana has the mate to this clock and I have a hundred dollars with which to buy Henry's if I can find it." Mrs. Bushong replied. "Well I own the old Henry Pefley place and the clock is still standing in the hall, but it is not for sale."

What stories of the past that old house could tell if able to talk. For over a hundred years it has stood there looking over the road on the life of the community as it flowed by. It has seen many generations grow up, pass on, and another one take its place. It has witnessed birth, sickness, death, war and pestilence. It has witnessed the coming of the settlers in their covered wagons on dirt roads, mud and snow; the coming of the railroad; the automobile; the bus and the airplane. Now it looks across the road toward the nearby hill where the airport of Roanoke is located. It has seen the mud road give way to macadam, then to paved U. S. Highway; the growth of Daleville and Hollins College. It has witnessed the building of many mills in the region on the creeks and rivers to use the waterpower in grinding grain, and in cutting the hardwood timber which covered the rolling hills. But these mills have disappeared until only one is in operation.

Copy of Deed held by the Bushong Brothers, Salem, Va.

Surveyed for Henry Pefley 258 acres, 18 acres he bought of Leonard Houts, by deed bearing date Jan. 12th, 1810 and 100 acres he bought of Col. Wm. McClanahan by deed bearing date Jan. 13th, 1795 and 59 acres there bought of Christian Harshbarger Executor of Borndrager, deceased by deed bearing date Jan. 8th, 1809 and 74 acres he bought of Borndrager, dec'd by deed June 9th, 1815 and the residue 7 acres being an overplus, bounded as follows: corner of Wm. R. Johnson thence with same crossing the Great Road to a white oak corner to Thomas Robinson, to Kegy line along south side of the Springs Road, corner to Henry Frantz formerly Yates.

Roanoke Co., Va., Deed book F. page 584.

Indenture dated Oct. 3rd, 1860 between John M. Smith, executor of Henry Pefley, dec'd of the first part and David Dyerle of the second part sold for $5,806.50 or $25.25 per acre originally containing 258 acres as shown by survey made by John Snyder, Dep. Surveyor of Botetourt Co., May 6th, 1833, Conveyed 29 acres to John Smith leaving 229 acres and the macadamized road took 3 acres. Bounded beginning in the middle of the west fork of Carvin Creek, to the land of Keagy, crossing the macadam road to a corner of John M. Smith corner to the land of Frantz heirs, line of land of Bruce (now Hurt), land of Obenchain, corner land of Keagy's.

Deed book 11 page 538, Botetourt Co., Va.

June 9th, 1805, Between Susannah Borndrager of Botetourt Co., and Henry Peffley of the same place for comfort and support afforded her by Henry Peffley for 14 years for her share of land left her by the will of her husband Andrew Borndrager.

Deed book 9, page 582, Bot. Co., Va.

Jan. 8th, 1809 Christian Harshbarger, executor of Andrew Borndrager, dec'd, of Botetourt Co., to Henry Peffley of the same county containing 59 acres on the waters of Tinker's Creek. As heir of Andrew Borndrager deceased.

WILL OF HENRY PEFLEY, will book No.1 page 14, Roanoke Co., Va.

In The Name of God Amen.

Whereas I Henry Pefley being old and infirm and calling to mind the mortality of the body and that all mankind are born to die do make constitute and ordain this my last will and testament (to-wit) First, I give and bequeath my soul into the hands of God who gave it and my body to the earth to be buried in a decent and christian like manner nothing doubting that I shall receive the same again at the resurrection of the just and as touching my worldly property wherewith it has pleased God to bless me with I give and bequeath the same in the following manner (to-wit) First I will that all my just and lawful debts to be paid out of my estate as also my funeral charges, second, It is further my will that my wife Susannah should have and keep all the property both real and personal during her natural life or during her own good pleasure and after her decease it is my will that whatever may be left of my property should be equally divided among my after named children with the exception of Henry my son whom I shall further name, and for the convenience of my hereafter executors I will name what I have already given to some of them namely my son Solomon has received 50 pounds worth in property etc. and Jonathon my son has received forty three pounds and Catherine my daughter has received Sixty pounds And my son Jacob has received fifty five pounds And my daughter Elizabeth Smith has received Fifty four Pounds And it is further my will that she shall have a piece of land at the lower end of my plantation including the old house lately occupied by D. Erby designated and bounded by several trees that we marked Beginning at the road and Caggys line, thence running southeast along the road by the old house and crossing the creek thence up the creek a little ways and crossing back again as the marked trees will show to the Beginning supposed to be 22 acres be the same more or less is my will she should have it whatsoever it may contain in those bounds for the sum of one hundred pounds.

Now it is my will as aforesaid that a deduction be made by my Executors of the sums already received by some of my children so that they may all be made equal, my daughter Susanah having received nothing as yet Henry my son has received nothing as yet and as he left several years before he was of age it is my will that he have two hundred dollars less than the rest of my children Salome my daughter has received nothing as yet Lydia my daughter not having received anything. Daniel my son not having received anything the above named are all my children and whatever my widow may leave shall be divided as above devised that is to say the lands to be sold and all the other property and the proceeds there be divided as above directed. And to Execute this my last will and testament I appoint my true and faithful wife Susanah Pefley and my son-in-law John Smith to Execute this my last will and testament revoking all others and leave this as the last.

This 30th, of Dec. 1833 Signed sealed and Delivered in the presence of us and we in the presence of each other. HEINRICH PEFLEY (SEAL) ABRAHAM STOVER. PETER CARVIN. PETER SMITH. At a court held for Botetourt county on the 29th day of June the last will and Testament of Henry Pefley, deceased was proved by the oath of Peter Carvin witness thereto and is ordered to be recorded and on the motion of John W. Smith and Susannah Pefley two of the Exors therein named who made oath thereto and together with John Petty and Henry M. Frantz their security Entered into and acknowledged bonds in the penalty of $1,000.00 condition as the law directs, certificate is granted them for obtaining a probate of the said will in due form.

SAM'L W. JETER, D. C.

PLACES NEAR THE MOUNTAIN E. Botetourt and Roanoke Co. VA By Helen R. Prillaman Pages 235-237

"GREENRIDGE" The Bushong Farm

"Greenridge" is located on Old Peters Creek Road (Barns Road) and is generally known in the area as "The Bushong Place". It is now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Jared Green who purchased it in 1974 from Dr. and Mrs. Lawrence Becker. The Beckers had bought the property from the Nininger family who were descendants of the Bushong family----a Bushong daughter, Bess, married Clyde Nininger, son of Nathan Nininger. The Beckers restored this home. Greenridge has an interesting history. It began with Henry Pefley (Peffley). He was born and reared in what is now known as Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. He and his brother David came to Botetourt County together and purchased adjoining farms from William McClanahan. Henry bought 100 acres from McClanahan and additional acreage from Leonard Houts and the Borndrager Estate. He married Susannah Borndrager, daughter of Andrew Borndrager, who owned a sizable farm near what is now Hollins College. Henry Pefley (Peffley) built his substantial brick house about 1832, soon after his marriage. It is said that the house was built of brick burned on the place which was in itself quite an art. The front of the house was red brick made of blue clay and the rear of the house was gray brick burned from red clay. Very unusual brick were used in the construction of the house. Some were "U" shaped for the cornices and other "V" shaped for corners. The kitchen was a separate building at the rear of the house. It is thought that the Pefley (Peffley) family members were buried on the farm since we are told there was a sizable cemetery in a wooded pasture where there were a number of unmarked graves. (See "The Peffley Brothers"). John M. Smith, Executor of Henry Pefley, deceased, conveyed the Henry Pefley property to David Deyerle by deed dated October 3, 1860 for $5,806.50, or $25.25 per acre. According to a survey made May 6, 1833 the property contained 258 acres, however, 29 acres had been sold to John Smith and the macadamized road took three acres. (Deed Book 11-Page 538-Botetourt County). Deyerle doubled the size of the house. The older part of the house had three rooms on the first floor and two on the second floor with a fireplace in each room. The staircase is boxed in. The fireplaces are arched and the mantels are simple. The floors upstairs are pine boards more than a foot wide. In the section added by Deyerle there is a lovely curved, paneled stairway. The house has old "Christian" doors, so called because of the cross design at their tops. In the basement of the older section there is a large fireplace where an old cooking crane with chains and hooks once were found. David Deyerle was a prominent and outstanding brick maker and contractor. He made the brick and erected the Main Building at Hollins College. He began on this building the day Virginia seceded from the Union and did not complete it until 1869. He also built the old Peters Creek Church of the Brethren and many other buildings and homes still standing in the Valley. David Deyerle died in 1898. An article appearing in the SALEM TIMES REGISTER October 14, 1898, told of Mr. Deyerle, one of the oldest, most prominent and wealthy citizens of Roanoke County, being killed by a vicious bull. The article went on to say that Deyerle, who resided on his splendid farm near Hollins, rode into his wheat field to drive out cattle which had gotten out of the pasture, when he was attacked by a dehorned bull. Although Deyerle was critically injured he managed to mount his horse and make it home. He died shortly after reaching there. David Deyerle left the Greenridge property to his son William. William went to Texas shortly thereafter. He deeded Greenridge to his sister Maggie and her husband, H. Clay Bushong. The deed, dated January 23, 1899, noted, "for and in consideration of one dollar in hand paid...and the further consideration of the care and kind attention given by the parties of the second part (H. C. Bushong and Maggie C. Bushong) to the support and welfare and comfort of David Deyerle, the father of William W. Deyerle, during the last years of him, the said party of the first part do grant with covenants of General Warranty unto said parties of the second part, to share and share alike, the following described land..." Greenridge remained in the Bushong family until 1971. A story has come down through the years about a prized possession of Mrs. David Deyerle. She valued highly a foot-high pewter Teapot given her by Mrs. Lucy Carvin, widow of Richard Carvin, son of William Carvin II. According to information available Mrs. Carvin was the last of this family to live in the Roanoke-Botetourt area. She died around the close of the Civil War. One of the most notorious lawsuits developed over the provisions of her will ever recorded in Roanoke County. Mrs. Carvin lived on land inherited by her husband from his father. He willed the property to her as long as she remained his widow. Known as "Carvin's Meadows" this land was later owned by Harvey Hall and at least part of it is still owned by the Hall Family (Brookside Golf Course). The Carvin house was diagonally across from the once lovely old home built by Nathan Nininger which still stands between Florist and Williamson Roads. The Nininger home and much of the land was owned for a number of years by Marshall L. Eggleston from Franklin County. The teapot, prized so highly by Mrs. Deyerle, was made on the order of a thermos bottle, the inner surface separated by a fraction of an inch from the outer covering. Mrs. Deyerle gave the teapot to her daughter, Mrs. Maggie C. Bushong, and it is hoped that it is still owned by the family. An interesting story has also come down through the years about a great old grandfather clock operated by weights and chains which stood in the Bushong home. According to the story, the Church of the Brethren held its Annual Meeting in the area where J. B. Fishburn was to later build his home. Mrs. Bushong started to the Meeting, driving a horse hitched to a two-seated surrey, when she overtook a lady walking in the direction of the meeting. She invited her to ride. As they became acquainted Mrs. Bushong learned that the lady and her husband were attending the Annual Meeting but the lady informed her that she had actually come to Roanoke for another purpose. She said that she had come to buy, if possible, a grandfather clock which was owned by someone living in a brick house about half way between Salem and Hollins, on the "Old Post Road". Two clocks, the lady had been told, had been sold in that neighborhood many years before by a peddlar from Hagerstown, Maryland. One had been inherited by her brother-in-law who lived in Indiana. She was hoping to buy the other one and had $100 to pay for it. The lady inquired of Mrs. Bushong as to whether she knew where the house was and if she knew the grandfather clock was still there. Mrs. Bushong replied that she did know where the house was and yes, the clock was still there but it belonged to her and she would not sell it. The Pefley, Deyerle and Bushong families had a great water supply from a cave spring located in a cliff across the road from the house. The entrance to the cave was walled up and entered through a wooden door. On entering a solid rock cavern extending about 20 feet into the hill was found. It was about seven feet high at the entrance and sloped down at the back. From the dark recesses in the back flowed a clear cold stream of water. The cave was a perfect refrigerator and milk, butter, etc. were kept there. The draft of air in the cave suggested underground caverns beyond. This brings to mind the story given by Mr. Alvin Cannaday, whose father Dr. A. A. Cannaday, owned the property where Woodrum Airport is now located. Mr. Cannaday talked about a hand-dug well on his father's property, which was dug through solid limestone. He remembered that paper could be dropped in this well and would soon reappear at the Bushong Spring, floating out in the stream of water coming into the spring. The cliff in which the cave spring was located has now been destroyed, or a least partially destroyed, in the airport runway extension taking place in the expansion program of the 1980's. A log house stood across the road from the main house at one time. In the early days this was used as a school house. This burned a number of years ago. There was once considerable woodland on the Pefley, Deyerle, Bushong property. An interesting story is told by older residents of the area. It seems that bears used the woods as they crossed The Barrens from one group of mountains to another. Greenridge has stood by the road as history in the making passed by. What great stories could be told if a house could talk."

Henry Clay Bushong was the son of John W. Bushong and Jane Evans. Born: 10 June 1851 Died: 12 January 1904

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